We first met in algebra class at Beyer High School in Modesto. I was a sophomore, and Chris was a junior. It wasn’t anything big or dramatic, but there was something easy about our connection from the start. I helped him with the class, and for some reason, he always asked me to sit with him. We started spending our lunch breaks together, walking around campus, and talking about everything—and sometimes nothing at all. It was simple, comfortable, and natural. After school, we sometimes hung out together, grabbing food or just spending time with each other. Food became our thing. Sometimes we’d go to the usual spots, and other times, we’d try something new. One of my favorite memories is when I took Chris to try sushi for the first time. It wasn’t a big deal, but somehow, it became one of those little moments that stayed with us. Over time, we probably both had crushes on each other at different points, but it never quite lined up. There were moments where we liked each other, but we always stayed friends, and that was enough. Our friendship was easy, uncomplicated, and comfortable—no pressure to make it anything more. After high school, we went our separate ways, but we stayed in touch here and there. Then, ten years later, both of us ended up in Sacramento. When we reconnected, it felt like no time had passed at all. We started hanging out again, going to festivals, checking out food events, and reminiscing about the old days. But this time, something felt different. Our first date was in San Francisco. We spent the day exploring the city, walking through the streets, and finding a cozy little spot to grab a bite. Since then, San Francisco has become our place. It’s where we’ve created so many memories together—laughing, talking, and exploring the city just like we did on that first date. We also discovered just how much we had in common. We’re both left-handed, which has made for some funny moments. We both grew up playing baseball and softball, spending our childhoods on the field. And when we drink, we both tend to stutter a lot, which always leads to more laughter than anything else. Even more surprisingly, we both lived by the Chuck E. Cheese in San Jose at different times without even knowing it. We even left Modesto around the same time and moved to the Sacramento area at the same point in our lives—but somehow, our paths never crossed until later on. It wasn’t an instant shift, but over time, we both realized that the friendship we’d built over the years had grown into something deeper. What had been easy and uncomplicated had become something more meaningful. We didn’t just like each other anymore—we truly understood each other. We had grown together, separately, but always in each other’s lives. Looking back, neither of us can point to one exact moment when everything changed. It wasn’t a grand gesture or a dramatic confession—it was just the natural progression of what had always been there. Over the years, we’d built such a strong foundation, and without even realizing it, that foundation had turned into something much more. Now, as we're getting ready to spend the rest of our lives together, we can’t help but be thankful for how it all started. It wasn’t love at first sight—it was better than that. It was a lifelong friendship that grew into love, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.