Some love stories start with a grand gesture. Ours started with a high school crush, a missed connection, and a little help from the internet years later. We first met as freshmen in high school, introduced through mutual friends who were dating at the time. But back then, we were just two people moving in different circles—well, except for the small detail that he had a crush on her. Life took us to the same college, but somehow, our paths still didn’t cross in a meaningful way. It wasn’t until after college that fate (and a dating app) brought us back together. What started as a simple plan to reconnect as friends quickly became something more. There wasn’t a single moment when we knew—it was a slow burn, built on spending more and more time together, traveling, caring for each other through difficult times, and realizing that being with each other just felt like home. Before we knew it, we had become each other’s safe space. Then came the proposal—completely true to us. Life had been busy, so we set aside a day just to be together. We grabbed Jersey Mike’s and had a picnic, talking about all the things we love about each other. In the middle of our conversation, she spotted a bee on his back and told him to stand up—ironically, the perfect cue for his friends, who were secretly nearby with cameras ready. As he stepped away from the food (and the bee), he pulled her with him and asked her to marry him. It was simple, unexpected, and absolutely perfect—just like us. Now, as we step into this next chapter, we are so excited to vow to continue being each other’s safe space, today and always.