Kyler and Marissa's story proves that timing truly is everything. Their paths nearly crossed more than once — first under the island sun in Hawaii and again among the quiet desert beauty of Joshua Tree, missing each other by mere moments. Then, in the most unexpected place, somewhere between the shelves of a Target aisle, their story finally began. As if the universe wanted to be certain, they later matched on Hinge, showing that no matter how many near misses came before, they were always meant to find their way to each other. When they connected, Marissa had her walls up, carefully guarding her heart. With patience, kindness, and consistency, Kyler slowly broke them down. What began as a cautious connection quickly grew into something deeper, built on trust, laughter, and genuine care for one another. Not long into their relationship, they faced one of their biggest challenges — deployment. What followed was a year and a half of long distance, filled with countless phone calls, messages, and many emotional goodbyes in airports. Each goodbye was never easy, but over time they shifted their perspective, turning “goodbye” into “until next time,” holding onto the certainty that their love was worth every mile between them. Through distance, time zones, and missed moments, their bond only grew stronger. They learned to support one another through life’s challenges and celebrate the little victories together, no matter how far apart they were. On March 16, 2025, Kyler asked Marissa to spend forever with him in an intimate setting. The moment was made even more meaningful by a ring he hand-crafted himself — a symbol of their strength, commitment, and eternal love, designed to reflect that no matter where life takes them, they will always find their way back to each other. Now, after every mile traveled and every “until next time,” Marissa and Kyler are ready to begin their greatest adventure yet — side by side, together forever.