Let's start with forever...

We met like many couples do these days, scrolling through the dating apps. Joe was fifth wheeling at a family vacation to Disney and Melissa was studying at UCF. Joe asked Melissa to drive to Disney Springs for a date, but that was a 30 minute drive, so, Joe got a phone number instead. Many late night calls and paragraphs of texts led to an expensive flight and an "I love you" (from him!) on the first in-person date.

When Melissa got into University in the north of England, it felt like the distance was closing. It was still a 4 hour train journey to see each other, but the tickets were, at least, a bit cheaper. It was during this time that they had many more opportunities to laugh and cry in each others company. When Melissa's thesis was turned in, she was headed back to Florida and he was sending pictures of the London court house.

After a long flight to the UK, the only thing Melissa wanted to do was sleep, and yet all Joe could think about was proposing. He had purchased the ring far in advance, and asking that all-important question had been on his mind for far too long already. Melissa woke up. Joe went to sit with her, ring box in pocket, but as per usual, struggled to get a word in edge-ways. The question had to be expedited after a comment from Melissa about Joe's "heart beating incredibly fast", at which point the writer of this memory promptly blacked out. The next thing Joe does reliably remember is a smiling Melissa, ring on finger, and an excitement for the world that lay before them.