Everyone has an origin story. Look at how many Marvel movies have been made solely about origin stories. Well. This may be the only origin story worth reading, really. Although this written historical account of our beautiful story comes from only my perspective, I am certain the way we both separately tell this story--the way we felt, the way we feel--is nearly synonymous with each other's narrative. Because this is what happens when you find your soulmate, your missing piece, you find that everything you wanted & dreamed of, & felt for your whole life spent waiting, are precisely the same thing. And watch as you--again & again when you fall deeper, more & more intertwined--blow one another's minds with your similarities & when you discover that you are each other's The One.

April 6, 2018, after having corresponded on the Match app for a bit, I remember--heart pounding, jittery white-electric butterflies pulsing all through me--exchanging phone numbers with this breath-taking man, who I could not believe I was talking to, who I was falling fast for but trying very hard to not get overly attached or in over my head...you see, Shawn was seemingly Too Good to be True, I wouldn't quite let myself believe (not yet) he was everything I had so patiently, achingly, been waiting for, dreaming of, for my whole life. (He was. And, truly, I knew it from the very start but I just couldn't believe it was possible. I, still, can hardly believe Shawn exists.) The first text message I ever sent you, Shawn, was: "Morning, Shawn! Amber here. This is a much more effective way of communicating, glad we took this step haha. Your phone number is very exotic. 😁" It was at 1:26 a.m. And then, at 10:00 a.m. the next morning-- Here I have to tell myself to chill, pump the brakes--I have an urge to write a scene-by-scene narrative of every step of our relationship as it quickly evolved in to the most intoxicating love story you could ever read, but I told Shawn I would keep this a "short story" so I have to rein myself in. I remember meeting for the first time on May 15 2018. I remember seeing Shawn for the first time in person, how he took my breath away, when he wrapped his arms around me as he picked me up in the most longed-for embrace I've ever experienced...I remember our airport kiss being everything we dreamed it would be. And that moment, it solidified everything we were already certain of: this was it, we found each other finally. And on January 12 2019, awash in warm golden rays of a setting sun, my sweetheart McKillop asked me to marry him. And on May 25 that dream is coming true. Together, we make the perfect team, the ultimate match. An unbreakable bond. I am the shield to his Cap, the song to his bird, the Bandicoot to his Crash, the Buttercup to his Westley. And I love, love, love him. (Shawny, cue the Avengers theme song now. I am ready to take on the world with you.)