We met randomly one day through a mutual friend. At the time, my world felt like it was crashing down around me, and he had just gone through a breakup. Without even realizing it, we gave each other a sense of peace we didn’t know we needed. It started simply—sharing a few memes every other day for a laugh, having deep conversations about life, offering advice, and being a shoulder to cry on with no judgment. Somewhere along the way, I realized I had the biggest smile on my face every time his name popped up on my phone. I tried to ignore those feelings, staying in denial of what they really were. I remember my sister telling me, “I don’t know why you won’t just admit that you like him,” and I laughed it off, too stubborn to admit she was right. Then one day, he casually asked me out for a drink. I told myself it was nothing and tried not to overthink it. Little did I know, he had been feeling the same way and was trying to play it cool too. I remember being so nervous—until I saw you. All the nerves melted away. Everything felt so natural, and I couldn’t understand why. Why was it so easy to laugh with you? To tell you my story, my hurt, and be vulnerable in a way I had never been before? And then we kissed, and suddenly, everything made sense. You became my person—the one I look for when I’m happy, when I’m sad, and when I have big news to share. We shared a bond that felt like a lifetime, even though we had only just met. I always joke that I fed you for a weekend and you never went away, but that weekend is one I will never forget. It changed both of our lives in the best way. We moved into a very small one-bedroom apartment and added another dog to our family. You started a new job while going back to school and eventually graduated with your degree. From there, you continued making moves forward—steps that created stability and built a future for us. Then, on March 15th, as I unknowingly got dressed to go to dinner, I walked out of the room to hear “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri. I stepped into the hallway and saw a white walkway, twinkle lights hanging all around, rose petals lining the path, and you standing there nervously, waiting for me. I was completely shocked—even though we had talked about getting married so many times, I couldn’t believe the moment was actually here. As I walked toward you with tears in my eyes, everything else melted away once again. I could see our future, our life together, and our families becoming one. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. You got down on one knee and said the most beautiful words—words I barely heard over the sound of my heart racing. I was about to be engaged to my best friend, and nothing else mattered. We decided on a two-year engagement so we could plan everything without stress or rush. Of course, I started planning the very next week, excited for all the details to come. Everything felt like it was on track, but something was always missing. We had spoken many times about children—I had always wanted to be a mom, and you had always wanted to be a dad. Unfortunately, not everything you want in life becomes a reality. After endless conversations and exploring our options, we accepted what we believed was our fate: being fur parents, and nothing more. Then on New Year’s Eve 2024, I took a test—just as a precaution after feeling off for a few weeks. That positive result gave us the greatest gift we could have ever imagined: Miss Violet Raine Cuellar. She is now the light of our lives, and I have never felt more fulfilled. Now, the final step in making all my dreams come true is walking down the aisle and marrying my best friend. Our story has only just begun...