Our story unfolded early in our freshman year at Virginia Tech. We were two eager engineering students juggling crazy math and overwhelming classes meant to weed out the faint of heart. Good fortune landed us on a project together, and we needed to attend a lecture in an unfamiliar building. Renee asked me to guide her to it as she didn't know where it was. Later my friends told me, "She's into you!!" Spoiler: She really did not know how to get to the lecture. Nonetheless, I unwittingly turned on the charm, got her number, and we started spending a lot of time together. By second semester freshman year, on February 5, 2018, we made our status as a couple official, and spent all our free time together. In junior year we even sampled living together at Renee's apartment during the Covid quarantine, because we could not imagine spending two whole weeks apart. All of our college memories and milestones were better because we shared them. We enjoyed VT football, tailgating, hanging out and studying, dinners at Cabo Fish Taco, the geography of wine, accepting our first adult jobs, and graduation! So it made complete sense to move in together after college and continue our favorite things together. After a couple of years in Bethesda (and some dreadful commuting) we moved to Northern Virginia to get closer to friends and our work. We made a big commitment in November 2023 and rescued a sweet hound mix. We chose a name that represented both of us; I worked in the spice industry, and Renee loves baking, so we named our cuddly girl Nutmeg! She really helped us work out our team approach to dog parenting, and she makes our days so much happier with a furry friend at home! Interestingly, Nutmeg enjoys eating off my plate as much as Renee does—in fact if I have something to eat, sharing with Renee is mandatory! So I have the perfect arrangement: Renee bakes something delicious EVERY WEEK, and I share whatever is on my plate with her without hesitation. After being a couple for six and a half years, I proposed to Renee on July 26, 2024 (much to her delight), and she said, “YES,” (much to my delight). We are working together to plan our wedding, and we are so looking forward to sharing this special day with our friends and family. Though we don’t know what twists and turns the future will hold, we are so happy to be able to face them all together.