On January 13, 2025. Lower Manhattan. North Manhattan Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Founder's Day celebration. Monique was working the room. Hosting committee. Making sure everything flowed right. Kareem? He wasn’t supposed to be part of the scene. He came through as the DJ’s childhood friend. Just pulling up, low key, no expectations. Monique came downstairs to get him. That’s where it started. Quick introduction. Simple energy. No pressure. Just two people catching a vibe on an elevator ride. Small talk, nothing crazy. But something was there. Monique noticed it first. The energy. Calm, confident, different. She walked him to his section. Made sure he was good. Asked if he needed anything. Professional… but a little extra attention. Throughout the night, she kept circling back. Checking on him. Making sure he was straight. Finding reasons to come by. Kareem saw it… but didn’t lean into it. He stayed in his own world. Dancing. Enjoying the music. Letting the night be the night. No chasing. No forcing. Then the night ended. Goodbyes. Quick moments. And then… that hug. Not a regular hug. The kind that stops you. The kind that hits different. It shook him. Left him standing there for a minute trying to process what just happened. By the time he snapped out of it… she was gone. He looked for her. Couldn’t find her. Went outside. Got in the car. Drove slow around the block… hoping to catch one more moment. Nothing. Most people would’ve let that go. He didn’t. He went home and got to work. Social media search. All he had was a name… Monique… and that she was a Delta. 45 minutes deep. Focused. Then he found her. Sent the message: “It was nice meeting you. You fine as hell. Luckily I found your IG. Are you single?” Straight. No games. And that was it. No back and forth for months. No confusion. They locked in. Every day since… it’s been us.