In 2018, I worked at a tech startup company at night, Hertz, during the day for Tech Support and part-time military with the Florida Army National Guard. At that time, I focused on being a provider for my daughter and building a future for both of us. I remember servicing a customer while working at Hertz when I saw Soraya walk in. I rushed to finish with the customer because I wanted to be the one to help her. I had to go to the back to refill the paper for the receipt printer. While in the back, I told my coworker that there is a customer in the lobby wearing a blue sweater that I intended to help next as soon as I checked out the current customer. Mission failed; that same coworker, not even 3 seconds after I returned to the computer to finish the current transaction, barged in, eagerly called Soraya over, and started to help her. While finishing up my customer, I decided to take my break right after since it wasn’t busy, and it would allow me the time needed to speak with her outside. I waited until she was in the car, then I approached her with a joke and immediately fell in love with her smile. I expressed my desire to get to know her, and she agreed to exchange numbers. Closing out the year was a busy time in retail; I also had obligations to the military and lost momentum in our communications. I didn’t handle it the way I should have and failed to communicate to her that I would be off the grid due to a weeklong training for the Army. I did reach out to her afterward, and she didn’t know who I was. I had to remind her who I was and then explain to her what the circumstances were. I expressed that I would love to see her again, but she told me she was going out of the country to Haiti for medical outreach. I thought it was interesting, and I admired her work. I got to see her differently, so my interest peaked even more than before. Compassion is enormous for me, so it was natural that I wanted to learn more. During her time away, communication with her was so easy. I realized she was a woman with depth, and with every layer of her mind and personality, I discovered another reason to be with her. I decided during that time that I would find every reason to have her next to me as soon as she came back. While dating, we had challenging moments. However, we were always able to find more reasons to move forward. In November 2019, Soraya moved to Orlando. I understood then that I needed to be more intentional and direct with my plans for us. I spent the next 2 years doing that, occasionally checking the temperature for her positive response to my proposal. In 2021 I started taking care of some personal goals I wanted to accomplish before asking for her hand in marriage, and in June of 2022, I popped the question, and she made me the happiest man ever when she said Yes!

In 2018 I moved back to South Florida post-completion of nursing school. While studying for my boards, my cousin helped me get a job at a behavioral health facility in Deerfield beach. I also spent my pastime enjoying it with family and friends back home. On a Friday at 7:25 AM, on my way to work, my car was totaled by an erratic and presumed under the influence of a driver. I was taken to the ER by ambulance, and as shaken up as I was and against the advice of my family, I decided to go to work. So I messaged my coworkers about what had occurred, and they offered to pick me up at the halfway point. So my brother Johnny dropped me off at the location, and I was picked up and went to work. While at work, I contacted my car insurance to initiate a claim and set up a car rental. State Farm set me up with Hertz in Boca for rental pickup. After exchanging numbers with Anthonio, I contacted him that night once I got home. We continued communicating, and as most people know, my cousin had her annual NYE party, which was the 1920’s theme, and I invited him to join me there. So as the days to the party were approaching, I had not heard from him, and he didn’t show up to the party either. Nonetheless, I went into the new year and still had a blast. The following day I deleted his number from my phone as I felt it had no use anymore since he had ghosted me. A week into the new year, Anthonio contacted me and explained himself and why I had not heard from him. While I was in Haiti completing the outreach, Anthonio reached out to me and mentioned that he would like to meet up when I got back. I agreed but became ill with a minor cold upon my return. I explained to him that I was not feeling and he assured me it was okay to meet, and he would take care of me. He indeed kept his word, we watched a documentary on Netflix of Ted Bundy, and he provided me with hot tea and vegetable V8. I was still unsure of the direction and longevity of our courtship as I passed my boards in 2019 and was relocating to Orlando. Anthonio showed his determination to make it work by ensuring communication and putting in the effort needed to continue this relationship. His intentions, effort, and love paved the way for me to say Yes when he asked for my hand in marriage on June 20, 2022.