A Day to Remember

I was 14, new to town. He was 16—and with a simple “hello,” everything began. We became close friends, spending time together and slowly falling for each other. Two years later, Zak shared his feelings. I wasn’t ready, but he waited. Soon after, he took us on our first date—eating Pizza Hut breadsticks by the lake, watching the sun dip below the horizon. It was simple but perfect. From then on, we were inseparable. We stood by each other through health struggles, college, deaths in our families, and life’s ups and downs. But sometimes, even the strongest love needs space to grow. Life led us down separate paths for a few years. Still, we never really let go. We checked in, we hoped, we believed if it was meant to be, it would be. And one day, it was. We reconnected and never looked back. Now, we’ve built a life—traveling, building a home, and facing even more hardships together. Through it all, we’ve learned that love—real love—isn’t just about the easy moments, but about everything we face together.