“That’s a Texas-sized 10-4!”

Ben was a senior, and I was a freshman. We both had gym at the same time of day - Ben had weightlifting for baseball, and I had regular gym class. Everyday, when class would let out, everyone was funneled out of one exit. One day, as we were leaving the gym, our paths crossed; we locked eyes. I smiled and said “Hey”; he responded back in the same manner. We walked together, through the halls, until we got to A-Wing; Ben had class upstairs, and I had class on ground level. We turned down A-Wing, stopped just before my classroom door, hugged each other, and said “Bye”. We did this everyday that we were in school that Spring Semester. After he graduated that June, we never saw or spoke to each other again. Life happened. For both of us. Fast-forward -> 2018. Ben found me on social media and asked, “Are you that girl I used to walk to class with?!” (my name had changed from Hangelia to Wimbish). We attempted the beginnings of a relationship then; however, we realized that neither of us were in a good place to do so. So, we left it as friends. Life happened, again. Fast-forward -> 2023. Ben lost his fiancée to cancer. I reached out to share my condolences and to let him know that I was here if he needed anything. Slowly but surely, we picked up right where we left off, and a beautiful relationship blossomed from it.