The night keeps going. Spring should be here, but the temperature disagrees. On the corner of Burnside and Harvey Milk, people come in and out of Ringlers Annex. It’s a Wednesday night, but the crowd suggests otherwise. It’s just another night in Portland, but to two strangers, that’s the night when their paths cross and merge into a big, beautiful journey that leads to forever. Winnie and Levi “meet” before they meet. No, that’s not a typo. Winnie doesn’t know it yet, but on a Wednesday night in the spring of 2021, Levi sees the only eyes peeking above the mandatory masks and recognizes Winnie at Ringlers Annex. He doesn’t say anything at the moment because they haven’t met yet, but he texts Winnie on Hinge after he gets home, and that reopens the conversation that was left forgotten. They reconnect, and Winnie says yes to Levi on a first date! The first date goes well for both of them. They have such a good time enjoying each other’s humor and sharing their backstories. They go home that night not knowing it yet, but a seed of love has already been planted. Just two years after Levi and Winnie think they have it figured it out, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity shows up at Levi’s door - Tennis Australia wants Levi to work for them in Melbourne. This is a tough decision. Winnie and Levi know they are building something meaningful that can last a lifetime, but should they let that stop Levi from pursuing his long-in-the-making dream? After many long conversations, Winnie decides to let Levi follow his dream, and that’s when their two-year long-distance relationship begins. No more spontaneous visits to each other’s places. No more double dates. No more planning weekends with each other. Instead, it is three-hour FaceTimes on the weekends; it is laughing at parties but thinking, “Levi/Winnie would love to be here”; it is meeting once every four months, far away from home. Too many lonely nights and missed moments, but not a single day goes by when they stop choosing each other. Fast forward two years. On Winnie’s second annual trip to Melbourne, they take their next step together. The story starts with a few days remaining of Winnie’s annual trip to Melbourne, when Levi suggests they go to a fine dining restaurant. As the day inches closer, Winnie’s excitement grows impossible to hide. She slips into a dark blue dress scattered with bright yellow polka dots, while Levi chooses something blue of his own in quiet coordination. They take the bus - just like Levi suggests with Google Maps’ help. They get off at a stop that doesn’t seem to have any restaurants in sight. “Follow me,” Levi says, leading Winnie toward the entrance of the Royal Botanical Garden. “Did he hire a private chef to cook for us and set up a picnic?!” Winnie thinks excitedly to herself. They enter the Royal Botanical Garden. It’s early March. Summer is still lingering in Melbourne. Flowers put on a good show, as if they need more attention for their vibrant colors. People are out sitting on the grass, running around, and enjoying their summer afternoon. Just when Winnie is admiring the people riding canoes on the lake, Levi kneels down on one knee and takes out the ring from his pocket. Winnie goes into a state of shock and happy crying. Levi poured his heart out with his proposal speech, and they both say yes to their chapter of forever. P.S: ChatGPT didn’t write this.