Our story began in 2021 on a cruise ship, though at the time, we had no idea how much that week would change our lives. What started as a simple conversation quickly turned into something effortless. We spent nearly the entire trip together, talking about everything and nothing, laughing, and realizing how rare it felt to be so comfortable with someone new. When the trip ended, we both knew it wasn’t a connection you could just walk away from. Two weeks later, Nick flew to Indianapolis, where Sophie was finishing her undergraduate degree, and that visit became the start of something real, something neither of us wanted to let go of. For the next three years, we built our relationship across state lines, between Indiana, North Carolina, and later Michigan. There were countless flights, long drives, and airport goodbyes, but we never once questioned the effort. Even from miles apart, we found comfort in knowing we had each other. Eventually, Nick moved to Michigan, and for the first time, we could share everyday life together instead of rushing through visits. It felt natural, steady, and right, like we were finally building a life together. We could cook meals, take walks, and enjoy the ordinary, everyday moments. Long distance had only made those simple days feel more meaningful, and it was in those first few weeks of sharing life side by side that we realized how perfectly our lives fit together. What began as a chance meeting on a cruise became a love built on patience, friendship, and an unshakable sense of home in each other. Now, we can’t wait to begin the next chapter of our story together, surrounded by the people who mean the most to us.