It all began on a warm July 4th in 2017, at the annual Kittyhawk Fourth of July block party—a day destined to change the lives of two people forever. That morning, Matthew and his little big brother Nathan were sent over from Donna Carbajal’s house to help Tino with the party setup. To Matthew, it seemed like just another errand, but fate had other plans. Meanwhile, Brianna was at home, carefully getting ready for the festivities. Dressed in a charming red, white, and blue outfit, she glanced out from her balcony to catch a glimpse of the bustling preparations below. That’s when she saw him—a mysterious boy helping her dad. Something about him caught her attention, and in that instant, she knew she had to meet him. As the party got underway, Matthew found himself hanging out with his cousins down the street, as he often did at family gatherings. Brianna, however, had already begun plotting her next move. She was determined to introduce herself to the boy who had unknowingly captured her interest. Then came the moment that would set their story in motion. A water balloon fight broke out, filling the air with laughter and chaos. Amidst the commotion, Matthew noticed a golden retriever tied to a table, barking and wagging his tail in a desperate bid to join the fun. Always a soft spot for animals, Matthew approached the dog to soothe and comfort him, his natural way with dogs shining through. It was the perfect opportunity for Brianna to make her move. Watching Matthew pet her beloved dog, Mambo, she took a deep breath and walked over. “Oh, that’s Mambo—he’s my dog!” she said with a warm smile. Matthew looked up, startled but intrigued. Their eyes met for the first time, and in that instant, everything shifted. What started as a casual Fourth of July encounter quickly grew into something extraordinary. From that moment on, their lives became intertwined in ways they could never have imagined, setting the stage for a love story that would last a lifetime.