I met Erica late in 2023, both of us new to Atlanta and new to our group of friends. We became friends quickly, good friends, always sparking compelling conversations while trying to navigate the gauntlet that is making friends in a new city after college. This particular group of friends ended up being the ones that stuck with us, many now set to be a part of our big day in September. Life with these friends was, and still is, good. One day not long after we had met, Erica gave me a ride home, one where she told me about her training to run a half-marathon that was about a month away. Not thinking, and not knowing just how big of a crush I had on this girl, I said "I'll run it with you!" Naturally, she gave me a weird look and asked if I was sure about that, to which I replied with a confident tone that was only meant to impress her, not backed with any actual confidence in my ability to complete the task at hand. She called my bluff, and watched me sign up for the race right then and there. We began training together multiple times a week. We ran and talked, and ran and talked, and ran and talked, and it didn't take long for the conversations to start carrying over into post-run burgers, milkshakes, and beers. This continued until I finally asked her on our first "real" date on the day of the race. Somehow she still wanted to get dinner with me even after hearing me beg to please walk for a little bit at mile 11 and her yelling "NO!" and literally willing me across the finish line. Dinner that night didn't feel like a first date. We spoke about what's most important to us in life and what makes us happy, not knowing quite yet that each other would be the biggest part of the answers to those questions after some time together. But don't worry, it didn't take us long to figure it out. And the rest, as they say, is history. Life with Erica is brighter, anyone who knows her will tell you. She has the kindest soul I have ever witnessed, and she loves and cares so deeply about those close to her, no matter what. It is my greatest honor to have her presence with me as we go through life together, and I will never take it for granted. Erica, I love you, and I can't wait to call you my wife.