We first met in high school chemistry but never really spoke to each other. In January 2019, Connor sent me a message on social media saying he wanted to get to know me, and three months later, I finally let him take me on our first date. He took me to Sonic for grape slushies—after having to meet my dad first. He managed to survive, and we talked for hours that day. Six years later, he asked me to make it forever.

One of my favorite things in the world (besides Connor) is the Christmas season. Every year we’ve been together, we’ve planned a “Christmas Night” full of holiday festivities. For our 2024 Christmas Night, Connor had the brilliant idea of going out instead of staying in. We planned to have dinner downtown, pick out an ornament at Tannenbaum, and walk around the RiverFront to look at the lights. As the night was coming to an end and we were walking across the pier, Connor got down on one knee. I was busy talking and didn’t even notice at first. Then, a bright camera flash came out of nowhere — and there was my brother behind the camera. It took me a second to realize what was happening, but once I looked back and saw Connor, I couldn’t stop smiling.