Like a number of modern age couples, we met on the internet. However, we did not meet on a dating app, such as Tinder, Bumble, or Hinge. The year was either 2013 or 2014; neither of us can remember the exact date our paths crossed. We both had a deep affinity for the best boy band to exist in that time period: One Direction. We met through mutual friends as fans of the band, and followed each other on Tumblr and Twitter. To the dismay of every internet safety class I had sat in growing up, Patty and I exchanged phone numbers. We met in person in New York City in March 2015, while I was visiting a childhood friend and Patty was attending the Fashion Institute of Technology. We stayed in touch throughout the years, through several group chats and even a trip to NYC again in 2017 that Patty planned with our friend Ariane. In 2019 Patty began working for Senator Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign, and I had never felt more pride from afar watching someone I was close to work for such an incredible candidate. During the lockdown in 2020 we would FaceTime regularly as I was furloughed, and Patty was working remotely for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. I recognized I was developing romantic feelings that Winter, and we just became closer as we kept in touch daily. In the Fall 2021 as the world was beginning to reopen its doors (and airways), Patty invited me to North Carolina to attend a Phoebe Bridgers concert. I happily accepted and flew from Washington state to attend with them. It was the first time we had seen each other in five years, and the first time since I knew I was falling in love. Not even a month later, coincidentally on the eve of Patty’s birthday, I had an extra ticket to see Harry Styles perform in Portland. This time Patty flew to me, and the morning of the show we shared our first kiss. A couple of days later Patty expressed that they were hesitant about pursuing a relationship with me as I lived across the country. I responded that my lease was up in the spring and I wanted to give this a shot. We began dating officially on November 22, 2021. Patty moved to Philadelphia in January 2022, and after I completed my contract with Montana Shakespeare in the Parks that July, I made the cross country drive in my Toyota Camry to be with them. Together we have built a beautiful life that we are both very proud of. We want to thank our families and friends for always being nurturing and supportive of our relationship; for accepting us into your lives as we were completing the piece of our puzzle.