Only a few short years ago, on New Year’s Eve, we welcomed in the year 2017, not knowing it would bring love with it. Selina and Marquise, through mutual friends, decided to go to Washington D.C. for three concerts across three nights. On the last night, only a short time before the ball dropped, Selina was caught during an intermission reciting lyrics to an older song. Marquise noticed immediately and asked some of her favorite artists. Music, once again, was bringing people together. After the concert, the whole group of friends gathered to continue the night, having fun. Selina and Marquise talked throughout the night, discussing families, music, travel, and so much more. Friends joining the conversation could tell something more was happening. There hasn’t been a night they haven’t talked since.

A few years after being with Selina, Marquise finally understood what a soulmate was. Determined to make the feeling last forever, he spent days searching for the perfect ring. Only the world halting would stop their love. And so it did. COVID-19 paused the planet for what felt like an eternity. After almost a year of hiding the ring around the house, Marquise decided to take Selina to one of her favorite places during her favorite time of year to make his favorite thing permanent. With friends taking their photos in front of the biggest tree there, Marquise worked up the courage to pop the question. And just like the first night they spoke, he knew life would only get better from there.