(Akilah's POV) We are true and proud millennials who met online. It was May 21, 2020 when I wrote Christopher on the popular dating app "Hinge". After an immediate connection online we exchanged numbers that same night and were virtually inseparable ever since. FaceTiming and staying on the phone until ours phones were going to explode from heat or eventually the battery dies because we both fell asleep. We entered what we called a "Love is Blind" phase. (Which is a show on Netflix where contestants aren't allowed to see each other until one of them proposes and the other accepts!). During this time we talked about everything under the sun. Big, small, happy, sad, our fears and desires, our hopes and dreams and everything in between. Everyday finding more and more in common. Sixteen days later, we met in person. I will never forget his twinkly big bright eyes when I first opened the door to find him standing there with flowers. By the end of that magical day, Christopher asked me to be his girlfriend. Marking the beginning of our forever. Which is why it was important to us to make it our official forever on the same day. June 6th was the day we both knew in our hearts that one day we would be here; celebrating the beginning of the rest of our lives together with the people we love most in this world. Thank you all for making that come true.

(Christopher's POV) It was Akilah's birthday June 26th 2020 and we were on vacation in Dominican Republic. We decided to have a birthday party for her on the beach. My goodness there were so many people. As news of my upcoming proposal spread throughout the gathering, I began to feel my heart beating faster and faster. My emotions were high enough to leap from. Akilah knew something was up right away, as she does. But there was nothing wrong. Everything was right and I couldn’t worry her any longer. It started raining so the party was taking longer than expected to begin. There was no waiting for this. So, at the last minute, we decided to walk down the beach. Just the two of us. Away from everything. Best decision ever. We walked for a few minutes. The rain did well to cover my tears of joy and excitement, but not for long. We stopped underneath some palm trees just near the ocean. I got down on one knee and said “Please marry me.” And she said yes. Thank God.