Our story began in Kalmar, Sweden, in January 2018, while we were both studying at Linnaeus University. Jared was in graduate school and working at AIFM Group, while I was spending a semester abroad from Austria with my best friend, Carina. Destiny gave us an extra push—Carina just happened to be Jared’s roommate, and by day two I had moved in with her (and him). From the very beginning, we were drawn to one another. We spent our days exploring Kalmar, taking trips to Stockholm and St. Petersburg, hosting dinners and parties, and discovering our shared love of cooking. It quickly became clear that what we had was something deeper than friendship. At the end of the semester, we set off on what was meant to be a “farewell trip” to Italy. But somewhere between sunsets over the Tuscan hills and one too many glasses of Chianti, we realized we didn’t want this to end. What started as a semester fling had grown into something much bigger—something worth fighting for. Since then, our journey has taken us across cities, countries, and even oceans: months of long distance while I finished my degree in Vienna, a summer together in a tiny Kalmar studio, driving moving vans in the middle of the night, a brief barista adventure (shoutout OAS), time apart during Covid, moving to Vienna together, and, finally, creating a home in Somerville. Looking back, every twist and turn, every challenge and adventure, brought us closer to this moment. We feel so grateful for our journey, for the love we share, and for all of you who have supported us along the way. And the best part? This is only the beginning.