In 2014, I started working on the Elizabeth River Ferry. Henry was one of the deckhands responsible for training me during the weeknight shift. I didn't think much of him then, aside from noticing that he was extremely observant and had no filter when it came to asking personal questions. During the summer of 2015, we became friends after I did him a favor one afternoon. As I was leaving the ferry from working the morning shift, Henry was coming in to work the night shift. He said that he didn't get a chance to stop by 7-11 on the way to work and needed a pack of cigarettes. "Just ask for Camel Red Shorts. I'll make it up to you. I'll buy you lunch or something." Having no experience with cigarettes but wanting him to not think I was lame, I drove up to 7-11 and asked for the cigarettes. Unfortunately for me, the woman behind the counter didn't know anything about cigarettes either and said "Are these right?" I gave an uncertain "sure" and paid my $6.29. After driving back to the ferry dock, I gave Henry the pack of cigarettes, and he was impressed that I got the right ones. Henry repaid me that weekend with 619 Cantina tacos, and the friendship was sealed. Not long after, Henry moved in with Matt Woodby. We spent the rest of the summer having long talks on the seawall, walking around Olde Towne, or hanging out at their apartment. August came around, and a morning of babysitting together made me realize how much more Henry was to me than a friend. Leaving for my junior year at Longwood proved to be a challenge for this blossoming relationship, but Adam Havrilla made things way easier for us by taking regular trips to Farmville with Henry. By December, that friendship with Henry had turned into dating.

This is when it gets hot, people! Alex and I had been joking (but somewhat seriously) about how we should just get married. After joking around about it so much, I went ahead and planned out how I was going to propose. We had just planned a trip to Hawaii, but I figured that was too soon after we had been talking about marriage to propose. Man, I wanted to though! It would've been pretty lit, I think. But anyways, after that trip and thanks to some free travel vouchers, we then planned a trip to see her cousin Ana in San Diego. So then I wanted to propose there because Ana and Alex were always close growing up. Even though that was my plan, I totally changed it all up because I knew she was suspicious of that. I ended up getting this Airbnb tepee in Lynchburg, Virginia, for a pre-Valentine's Day getaway. It was located on a ranch with animals, which she loves. Once we were there, she's all happy, and we're having a great time. Got some delicious food, and now we're heading back to the tepee. I’m nervous as hell thinking "How am I gonna do this once we're there?" We get there, and I’m trying to get this wood stove going because we're freezing our asses off. I get it started finally! I get so nervous that I’m getting sick to my stomach so I was pouting and sweating. I go to the outhouse then back to the tepee. We're on the bedside. She's holding my head, rubbing it, while I’m sneakily getting on one knee. Once I'm in position, I slowly looked up with the ring in my hand and asked this beautiful lady to marry me. Of course she said yes, or I wouldn’t be writing this little story!