Our first date was at a beer garden in Brier Creek. Which if you know anything about Brier Creek - you know that it's not really our vibe. But, when you're both working, in grad school, and live 45 minutes apart - you gotta make it work. Between nervous laughs and occasional silences, conversation flowed organically. I learned that Shaye's birthday is the celebratory day of my favorite movie since childhood. My middle name was the same as Shaye's cousin and grandmother's middle name, as well as their favorite name for a future child. We learned we shared not only our favorite TV show, but also favorite episode and character. I just had this knowing that THIS was meant to be. What followed was a bit of a rocky road - two stressed out grad students trying to figure out love in a pandemic. Yeah, there was a lot going on. But, during that time we learned flexibility, loving each other in our own language, and that the important shit is worth fighting for. Fast forward through vacations, first big kid jobs, moving in together, and getting the cutest kitten together. Things got hard again. I know most of you know this part of the story so I'm not going to focus on it too much but I will say this: sometimes people need space in order to find each other again. Sometimes we need to be lost to appreciate what being found feels like. The cheesy cliche saying is true. If something truly meant to be yours, it will come back to you. And that's what we did - we found our way back to each other. Through quiet walks through trees and long conversations late into the night, we found our love once more. Then it all happened FAST. We moved in together again into a house in our absolute favorite city - Durham, NC. We went on more vacations, got promotions at our big kid jobs, both started doing really consistent therapy ourselves and as a couple. That era of our lives really allowed us to stabilize and exist as a family. Then we got engaged. Twice. Once in downtown Atlanta in the presence of other lesbians playing mini golf at the location of our very first vacation together. I whipped out a very nervous speech that a character from our favorite show said to another character. Here is that speech: "When I say I love you, it's not because I want you, or because I can't have you - it has nothing to do with me. I love what you are, what you do, how you try... I've seen your kindness, and your strength, I've seen the best and the worst of you and I understand with perfect clarity exactly what you are. You're a hell of a person. You're the one, Shaye." They said yes! (Yay!) And the next day we went to a huge nerd convention and had THE BEST time. Then it was Shaye's turn. They proposed on Valentine's day via a video that they created of our story that they projected on a screen outside! It was so sweet and intimate. They ushered me back inside and revealed that tomorrow morning we would be hosting brunch with all of my friends. It was such as sweet surprise and I was so happy to be around the people that mean so much to me. We went to dinner and talked about our love in the most tender and loving way. Then we woke up the next morning and spent the day with our people! A few more trips and adventures later and here we are - planning our wedding and we are SO excited. We're eager to be married, to celebrate with you all, and to say "fuck you" to all the people that have tried to block us from doing this. But most of all, we're just happy to be here.