We first met on February 7, 2020, just weeks before the world shut down. I was out celebrating my friend Caroline’s 21st birthday with a group of friends at a local rooftop bar. When we gathered to take a selfie, Collin and his friend Ryan noticed us from across the patio and offered to take it. The photo below captures that moment. Collin and Ryan ended up joining our group, and the rest of the night unfolded easily with plenty of conversation and laughter. When the evening came to an end, we went our separate ways without exchanging information, never knowing this was only the beginning of our story. Four years later, in April of 2024, we reconnected on Hinge. I recognized Collin immediately and matched with him because I remembered how easy it felt to be around him. On April 27, 2024, we met at Henry’s for our first official date. We were both a little nervous at first, but that quickly faded. Sitting together in a small booth, the conversation felt easy, familiar, and safe. We kept the night going, not quite ready to say goodbye. When the night finally came to an end, it had started to rain. Collin walked me to my car and held my jean jacket over my head so my hair would not get wet. In that simple, thoughtful moment, I knew he was different. We both left that night knowing something very special had begun, and everything since has only deepened what we felt from the very start.