Emily and I met due to unusual circumstances. The year was 2006. Emily and I embarked on our journey as freshmen while my sister, Ashley, was a senior. It was Grafton High School tradition that seniors could kick freshmen out of their lockers so that they could be closer to friends. Ashley did not break tradition. It just so happened that Emily was THAT freshman with the locker Ashley desired. I still remember Ashley asking me if Emily would be the type of person to care if she was forced to switch lockers. I told her the truth; I didn’t know her. It was decided; 17-year-old Ashley kicked Emily and all of her school supply belongings to the curb. However, there is beauty in tradition. Ashley granted young Emily the best locker in the school – the one next to mine. That entire year of being locker neighbors never amounted to anything more than a few awkward encounters and the occasional teasing about how Emily’s locker resembled that of a recycling bin with her papers and Propel bottles systematically scattered throughout. It was not until I joined the tennis team our junior year that Emily and I interreacted and conversed like real human beings. She was the boy’s manager. I was the first-year player who didn’t know “deuce” from “love-love”. Before I knew it, I fell in love with the game of tennis; and more importantly, Emily.

Nick and I began dating on July 19, 2010. He invited me down to the Riverwalk in Grafton and we took a stroll along the water, stopping here and there to chat, until we got to “the spot”. He had me close my eyes, turn around, and count to three. When I opened my eyes and turned around, he pulled flowers out from behind his back and asked me to be his girlfriend. This year, on my birthday, and almost eight years to the day, Nick and I once again took a stroll down on the Riverwalk in Grafton. Once we arrived at “the spot”, he recounted the moment from eight years prior. He told me to close my eyes, turn around, and count to three. When I turned around, Nick was down on one knee with the ring box in his hand. I cried many happy tears and I think I said yes? We hope you say yes as well and come on down for some southern hospitality and celebration. See you in Charleston!