Derek and I met freshman year of high school. We wound up choosing the same course, and spent the next four years together in Design and Visual. We quickly became friends, and our friends soon became mutual. Before we knew it we were going to prom together.

After nine years of dating, we got to a point where we felt ready to take the next step and move in together. Even during a quarantine, we were fortunate enough to have help from our close family, and within a day all of our belongings were in our new place! It was a long day of unpacking boxes, assembling furniture, and cleaning. We were both beat and ready to call it a night. Derek said he had one last package left to bring in from the car. When he came back in, he asked me to open it so we could finish up for the night.. I opened the box, and inside was a beautiful photo collage filled with pictures of the two of us that read "The Ryan Family". I then turned around to see Derek on one knee, and even though for a second I thought he was messing with me (which is typical for him), I quickly realized this was not a joke. Since then, we have been adjusting to living together and getting used to calling each other "Fiancés" :)