Both North Carolina natives, we met in the spring of 2022 and had our first date at Clouds Brewing in downtown Durham, NC. At the time, Rianah was in her second year of law school at NCCU, and Cameron was preparing for a three-month work placement in the UK. From that very first date until Cameron left, we spent nearly every day together, and despite the distance, we stayed in close contact while Cameron was in the UK. When Cameron returned, he made things official by asking Rianah to be his girlfriend on Christmas Eve 2022. Shortly after, Cameron received a major job opportunity in New York City that he had been waiting for. Long distance was never really a consideration, especially since Rianah had the flexibility to move after graduating later that year. Cameron relocated to NYC in the spring of 2023 but returned to North Carolina that summer to work remotely and support Rianah as she prepared for the bar exam. In August 2023, Rianah passed the bar and officially joined Cameron in New York. Since then, we have been inseparable, traveling together, spending time with family, and supporting each other through life’s highs and lows, including the loss of a grandparent on each side. Our journey came full circle during a trip to Martha’s Vineyard, where Cameron asked Rianah to be his wife. Surrounded by close friends and surprised by the presence of her family, the moment perfectly reflected the love, thoughtfulness, and partnership that have defined our relationship from the very beginning.