Fall 2009. Black Student Union club meeting. University of the Pacific. These were the first words Gerald said to Mekleet, a college freshman at the time. Injera, a staple in Ethiopian cuisine, was how Gerald decided to introduce himself and show that he was “cultured.” Hard to tell if she was amused. Whether or not a seed was planted that day depends on who you ask, but what followed over the next few years was a platonic relationship. After spending some time off each other’s radars, Mekleet and Gerald found each other again in spring 2012, right before his graduation and move to Orlando, FL for work. After a year of lengthy skype chats and written letters, Gerald returned, and the two picked up where they left off until today...