Our next adventure

Rourke was already seated at our assigned group project table when Rebecca arrived. Her first thought was, "Not another group project," but her second was, "Who's this?" Within weeks we were best friends. We began sharing our favorite music on the carpool to teaching placements, finding excuses to meet up in the library, longboarding to class, and reading the entire HP series (for Rourke, for the 10th time). Each small moment felt like a new adventure.

After many camping trips, a visit to Panama, a month-long road trip across the USA, a couple weeks in Hawaii, and a new home in South Philly, we ventured to Europe. Rourke was patient: the ring sat nestled in his backpack for all of France and half of Italy until the perfect moment in Rome. The server at dinner greeted us with a complimentary glass of Rebecca's favorite drink (great planning, or totally lucky?). The meal was perfect, and because Rourke said we were headed to a sunset spot at Rome's highest point after dessert, when he stepped away from the table Rebecca dutifully checked to see if he had packed the ring. As we arrived to the park, a pianist was playing a cover of one of our favorite songs (superior planning, or total happenstance?). Cut to the moment: Rourke was stumbling through his bag, Rebecca was sobbing uncontrollably, and a street vendor was forcing a rose upon Rourke in exchange for 2 euros. It was a fairytale, just like the movies.