Freshmen year algebra class at Maine South high school must have been a magical place because it was where we met and became friends. It wasn't until we became running partners on our high school cross country teams, that a crush blossomed-in me moreso than in Jimmy. A couple of dances apart later, and Jimmy finally asked me on a date the summer before senior year. After 4 years of long-distance at separate colleges, multiple visits, and winter and summer breaks in Park Ridge, we graduated and moved back home to be back together again.

What started off with me texting Jimmy that I woke up feeling sick, ended as one of the best days of our lives. Waking up with a serious sore throat (long before Covid, don't worry) spooked Jimmy enough to text my mom to bring me the necessary medicine to help me feel better. Jimmy then picked me up from my parent's house to go back to my apartment to get ready for the dinner we had planned with his family. After dinner, we were headed to meet my friends at a bar, but I soon realized that we were not driving in the right direction. I played dumb until I heard Jimmy's google maps blurt out, "make a U-turn." As we pulled up to the Chicago Botanic Gardens, I had a feeling something special was going to happen. As we walked the lightscape path, we arrived at the Cathedral Lights and Jimmy got down on one knee. I said yes! Little did I know that his sister Ellen and her fiance Chris were behind us the whole time taking pictures. The night wasn't over, as we then drove to a party where our closest friends and family were waiting to celebrate with us. It was a perfect night.