To say that I fell for Zach instantly would be an understatement. I moved to Tallahassee in 2018 to pursue my master’s degree in history at Florida State University. At orientation, each new graduate student was assigned a department "mentor," someone to answer questions and help them acclimate to the program. Zach, a PhD candidate, had been assigned to me (shout-out to Dr. Sinke for the match made in heaven) and I immediately knew he was someone special. Several of my bridesmaids can attest to the fact that I would not shut up about him from the day we met. Luckily, it seems he was just as infatuated with me. We talked to each other daily, went out multiple times a week, and came up with any excuse to see each other. Those six weeks of friendship before we started dating were some of the longest weeks of my life, for me and for anyone in earshot who had to listen to me talk about him. Something about our relationship was tangible – on at least three occasions, we would be talking to complete strangers and someone would ask “so, are you a couple?” We would awkwardly answer "no," but we both secretly loved this question. Some parts of our relationship make for grand, romantic stories – like reuniting in the airport after my summer language program in Lebanon and his research trip in Hong Kong. But the simple moments are just as important to our story - like when I keep him company while he mows the lawn, following him up and down the yard, keeping pace with the mower and dodging pinecones, chatting away about whatever comes to mind. And how lucky I am that we can enjoy these simple moments every day of our lives together.