I’ve never been one to follow the conventional path. My life... my story has never fit in neat little boxes, and meeting Daniel was exactly that...the unexpected. A random encounter that somehow felt meant to be, right in the middle of Bourbon Street during Essence Festival in New Orleans. I was on a girls’ trip, deep in celebration mode ...listen to me when I say no plans to meet men, no expectations, just looking forward to a good time and ready to immerse in culture. He was on a guys’ trip, doing the same. The city was alive with speakers, authors and musicians. And then, in the middle of it all, our paths crossed. He saw me from across the street on Bourbon street. I looked up and we locked eyes for a moment. Handsome came to my head but that was the end of it. We walked into a bar and went about our night headed to the bathroom. Little did I know he ran through the chaos to look for me. Upon exiting the bar, he asked if he could buy me a drink. I turned to my girls and said, “Y’all want free drinks?” They shrugged. And just like that, the night begin. We found a bar, squeezed into a corner, and spent hours talking. We talked about everything in that first encounter. I remember how easy it felt ...no filters, no pretending. He was real, funny, attentive, and thoughtful. The kind of person you feel like you've known for a long time. There was this comfort between us from the very start, like we were picking up a conversation we didn’t realize we’d started long ago. That night, we walked out hand in hand. No no need to say what we both already knew...simply a quiet promise to keep in touch. And we did through long-distance visits, late-night calls, and just sharing portions of our lives with each other. What started as a wild, unexpected moment turned into something lasting. Today, we’ve built a life and a love that feels as real as it is rare. Daniel is my peace, my joy, and my best friend. Our story isn’t traditional, and that’s exactly why I love it. It’s ours.