Welcome to Our Journey of Love

The summer of 2007 is when our journey began. Derek and I were just freshmen at Westchester High School, navigating the exciting — and slightly awkward — world of being high school students. We shared the same History class, and our teacher had arranged the room so that half the class faced the other. From where my friends and I sat, I could always feel someone’s eyes on me. Every time I looked over, there he was — Derek — staring at me and whispering to his friend. I used to lean over to my best friend, Kiera, and whisper, “Why is this weirdo constantly staring at me and not saying anything?” We laughed it off, but deep down, I was curious. A short while later, I met his twin sister, Dernesha, and we quickly became friends. One day, I told her about this guy in my class who wouldn’t stop staring at me. She laughed and said, “Oh, that’s my twin brother! That’s just his way of saying he’s feeling you!” I couldn’t help but laugh, but sure enough, shortly after that conversation, Derek finally gathered the courage to say “Hi.” And from that moment on — that was all she wrote. We became close friends almost instantly, comfortable with each other in a way that felt effortless. Derek would walk me to class, check on me throughout the day, and was always there whenever I needed anything. He was kind, funny, and protective — the kind of person you could trust with your whole heart. Not long after we became friends, Derek and his sister had to unexpectedly transfer to another school. We both thought that might be the end of our friendship, but it wasn’t. If anything, the distance only strengthened our bond. Our friendship continued to grow throughout high school — along with our feelings for each other. By senior year, we decided to take our friendship to the next level and officially become a couple. 2011 was our year — we were inseparable, doing everything together and making memories that would last a lifetime. We went on dates to the park, the movies, and the beach — our favorite place to just relax and enjoy each other’s company. Derek even took me to my Senior Prom, where we absolutely shut it down in our matching yellow and black attire for our “Paris in the Springtime” themed night. After high school, life took us in different directions. We grew apart and eventually lost contact, but life has a funny way of bringing people back together when the time is right. Years passed, and we both went through our share of life lessons and growth. Then, in 2019, everything changed. I was at work when I got a Facebook notification — a friend request from Derek. I immediately called Kiera, shocked and excited, to make sure it was really him. A few minutes later, I accepted it, and the rest, as they say, is history. That very same day, Derek and I spent hours on the phone catching up on everything we’d missed in each other’s lives. We couldn’t wait to see each other, so we met up that night — and just like that, the spark was back. It was as if no time had passed, yet we were both new versions of ourselves — wiser, stronger, and ready for something real. By that time, I had a beautiful daughter, Serenity, who had brought so much joy and purpose into my life. When I told Derek about her, he was over the moon and couldn’t wait to meet her. Our first official date as adults — and his first time meeting Serenity — was at the Pumpkin Patch in Culver City. That night was filled with laughter, love, and moments that reminded me why everything had led us right back to each other. I knew then that Derek was the one I was meant to spend forever with. Fast forward to my birthday vacation — Derek had planned the most amazing week in Santa Barbara, filled with everything I could’ve ever wanted: peace, love, and quality time together. At the end of that trip, when we returned home, he proposed in front of my parents’ house, surrounded by our immediate family. It was simple, intimate, and perfect — a full-circle moment that brought our story to.