Brooke and Stephanie's story unfolds a few weeks prior to the start of their CIMBA adventure in the spring of 2019. The study abroad program had released the manifest of all the students set to attend that semester. Naturally curious about the individuals she would be sharing living spaces, meals, travel, and academic endeavors with, Stephanie sifted through the list of profiles. It was during this perusal that she came across Brooke's profile, capturing his photo, which she promptly shared with her friend, Camille. In a charming twist of fate, the very next picture Stephanie sent Camille was of Brooke giving her a piggy-back ride in Venice during high-tide on their first weekend at CIMBA. Throughout the semester, Brooke and Stephanie found themselves sharing not only the same classes but also embarking on weekend adventures together. Their bond deepened, and they even celebrated their first Valentine's Day as a couple. They fondly joke about how they took a somewhat unconventional approach, going on their honeymoon first in Italy before "officially getting married." Upon their return from CIMBA, Brooke and Stephanie remained in contact, despite the geographical separation as they resumed their studies at Furman and CU Boulder, respectively. It seemed almost poetic that the two individuals who found love together attended universities that were the farthest apart. As the years passed, they took turns visiting each other, and it became increasingly clear that their connection was something special. With a little nudge from their friend Brandon, they could not deny the deep affection they had for each other.

Just a few weeks before Stephanie was scheduled to make a cross-country move to Delaware, she made a visit to Brooke to celebrate the 4th of July. Their weekend kicked off by assisting Alyson in her move out of her apartment, an endeavor they undertook with exceptional teamwork. During the move, Stephanie could not help but notice Brooke holding onto her extra fanny pack, an act that seemed somewhat unusual, especially since Stephanie was already sporting an identical one. In a bid to end the weekend on a memorable note, Brooke had planned a daytime sail to St. Michaels, MD, followed by dinner and an overnight stay on the boat. However, their adventure was accompanied by scorching heat, with temperatures soaring to around 100 degrees that week. Stephanie observed Brooke's demeanor shift as they readied to set sail. Given the newness of the boat, she assumed he was simply in "work mode," which was not unusual for him to be focused and quiet. Or at least, that is what she thought. Once they were ready to embark, Stephanie noticed the extra fanny pack had made another appearance. She began moving it below deck but was stopped by Brooke, who placed it right beside him. Stephanie did not think too much of it, attributing it to his continued "work mode." A little way into their journey, Brooke asked Stephanie for assistance in checking the anchor, explaining that it had never been dropped in Maryland before. As a novice sailor, Stephanie found this request entirely reasonable and awaited his guidance. While they stood at the bow of the boat, Stephanie turned around to find Brooke preparing to kneel. All she could manage was a surprised "What are you doing?" To which Brooke simply replied, "I'm doing it."