I first met his brother and our paths crossed a few times, but little did we know that these seemingly ordinary interactions would lead to something extraordinary. It was on his brother's graduation party that our story took an unexpected turn. As a joke, Cory approached me and asked if I would pretend to be his "girlfriend" for the night. Intrigued by the request, I agreed, not knowing that this act would lead us to where we are today. As the night unfolded, our pretend relationship began to feel surprisingly real. It was during this celebration that one of our mutual friends, sensing the chemistry between us, decided to play matchmaker and paid us $16 to share a kiss. From that night forward, our bond grew stronger with each passing day. We discovered shared interests, dreams, and values that brought us closer together. We are grateful for the unexpected twists and turns that led us to where we are today.

The morning of our anniversary, Cory prepared a delicious breakfast for us to enjoy. As we sat under our old oak tree, savoring the flavors and reminiscing about our journey. After breakfast, we took a leisurely stroll through the lane of apple trees that we had planted together in the spring. Cory guided me towards "the" tree where he carefully placed the engagement ring on one of the apples. When I noticed the glimmering ring nestled on the apple, I was speechless. Overwhelmed with joy and emotion, Cory got down on one knee and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. With tears of happiness streaming down my face, I said yes, knowing that this moment would forever be etched in our memories. We are grateful for this magical moment and cannot wait to embark on the journey of marriage together.