We met in Calculus class Senior year of high school after he transferred into my period. My classmate and I were tasked with making him feel comfortable and answering any questions he had, because not only was he new to the class, he was new to the school. Our friendship began to build and next thing you know, we were walking with each other to classes and texting everyday. He began coming to my tennis games and watching me from afar (silently cheering me on). Before long, we were going on our first date and have been inseparable ever since!

I flew into town to visit Mario during a break from nursing school, and my birthday fell within the two weeks that I was visiting. He had big plans. The night before my birthday (September 22, 2021) he takes me to a beautiful hotel downtown, we get dressed up, go out to dinner and enjoy a relaxing night. The next morning, my birthday, he tells me that we have a reservation and need to get dressed. We take our times getting ready, getting dressed up for the day. He drives me to an amazing tea garden and we walk around looking at the flowers, waterfalls and Koi in the ponds. We find some shade under the stone archway and I sit down staring out into the trees as he paces a short distance ahead of me. I look over and there I see my mom, his mom, his dad and grandma come around the corner (I was not expecting anyone to come around the corner- let alone MY MOM! who he had flown in from Georgia) I instantly begin to cry in shock that my mom was right in front of me as Mario gets down on one knee and asks me to marry him. I immediately say yes, shaking my head while trying to wipe away my tears as to not ruin my makeup. It is easily a day I will never forget!