Forever is not long enough!

We both grew up in the Boston area, we both had some of the same mutual friends, but yet we somehow never crossed paths. Maybe that was for the better, because who knows how we would've reacted to the teenage versions of ourselves? But little did we know, we'd cross paths quite a bit in the years to come. Fast forward to October 2017. The setting is Washington, D.C. Howard Homecoming! We definitely didn't plan on meeting here, but in the middle of the tailgate we locked eyes and had the first of many conversations. Even though one of us smelled like fried fish and sweat (Obum), we still talked for a while, and even exchanged numbers. But we went our separate ways and didn't speak to each other for about a year.

Now, let's fast forward to November 2018. We both made our way to a UIU (Umu Igbo Unite) event in Boston, and sat next to each other. We were in our own world—you would've thought we were on a date and were the only ones at our table. We talked about some of the things we still talk about till this day—our aspirations, our plans, where we thought life was leading us at that moment...we really had the chance to get a glimpse into each other. A glimpse into each other's mind and spirit. And that same weekend, we end up at a kickback (thank you Amy!), playing Scrabble (note: if you ask either of us, you'll hear a different story as far as who actually won..). Honestly, we could’ve cared less about the Scrabble, since we had yet another chance to spend a few hours getting to know each other one on one, in a room full of people, but focused only on each other. But, once again, we went about our lives. Now (you guessed it) let's fast forward yet another year, and we run into each other yet again. This time at a UIU convention in Minnesota. Whether it was the Trader Joe’s brand knockoff Fritos we were eating in the lobby, or just the genuine vibes we were getting from one another, we stayed up for hours, and again had the chance to learn about one another on a deeper level.

We developed a bond—we couldn't deny that something was there. This time was different—we didn’t just go about our separate lives. Whatever sparked that weekend pushed us to be intentional in our conversations, and consistent. If anything, our once separate lives started to come together. From a surprise appearance at Obum's brother Nnamdi's traditional wedding a few weeks later, to a weekend together in NYC where we had our first date (actually a weekend full of dates), something beautiful came to fruition. Even though we started off miles apart in Harlem, NY and Hanover, NH, we found a way to make things work.

Over the course of 2 years, we cheered each other on through a white coat ceremony, a board exam, and new career opportunities. But we also protected each other through a pandemic, and uplifted each other when things were rough. On May 22nd, 2021, our lives truly did come together. After getting the blessings of our families, Obum proposed where everything all started for us: Boston. In front of family and friends in the area, we committed to our journey toward our forever and celebrated the night away.