In this life and the next

Our story starts in April of 2020. Sofia was staying with her parents in Mexico due to the pandemic, and I was living in Southern California. Fate brought us together one day on a dating app called Hinge, and I knew from the moment we started messaging that we had a connection. Lockdown kept us apart for another month, but we had our first date at the end of May. That first date included me getting Lysoled at the door and immediately being asked to take a shower. It ended up being one of the best days of my life. We weren’t able to go out much that summer, but I was grateful because it forced us to really get to know each other. We had so much fun being stuck in an apartment together, and that’s when it hit me that she was special. Being around Sofia felt like home. She made me feel seen, she made me feel loved, and from the beginning, I felt like I could truly be myself. Fast forward to November 2021, when we decided to move in together. I was coming home from work a few days after the move, and when I walked into the apartment, Sofia was sitting on the couch watching her show. The sun was setting, the windows were open, and everything felt so peaceful. Then I realized I didn’t have to go home, I was already there. A few months later, we decided to move to Chicago. It was a big step in our relationship, but I never had any worries. I trusted Sofia more than I trusted myself, and I knew that as a team, we would make it work. We made so many great memories in our first apartment in the city, and our relationship grew even stronger. By the time 2023 hit, I started planning the proposal. I wanted it to be special because she deserved the world. When we began planning our trip to Paris, I knew it was the perfect place. I can still smell the cool October air mixed with fresh paint the afternoon I purchased her engagement ring. I was helping my sister paint a few bedrooms in the house she and her husband had recently purchased, and I was so indecisive about which ring to get. I’m someone who spends hours reading reviews before making a purchase, so the idea of buying something so significant had me stressed. I did more pacing than painting, but I finally found the perfect ring. The day I proposed, I was a nervous wreck. We were touring the Palace of Versailles, but all I could think about was making the moment special for her. When we finished the tour, we went out to the courtyard, and that’s when I asked her to marry me. I had a whole speech planned in my head, but I started choking up when I looked into her eyes. I guess that’s why our wedding song is what it is, I still get nervous. - The Groom