We met in France. People love hearing that! We were acquaintances during our school year abroad. Zach tried striking up conversations with Valeria and Valeria replied in single words and ran away. Figuratively. And maybe sometimes literally.

At the end of the school year in France, Zach casually mentioned meeting up once they went back home to the US. Valeria took him up on the offer while visiting dear friend (and wedding photographer) Danielle, and let him drive her around Seattle for an afternoon (with lil brother Andres along for the ride). It was very nice.

Valeria returned to Walla Walla for her last year of school, and Zach to Tennessee. They kept in touch through the socials (nobody says that) and when Zach went home to Washington for winter break another opportunity presented itself. As she didn't have a car or a license, Valeria asked her best friend and roommate Brielle if she could pretty pretty please drive them to Seattle for a visit. Because Brielle is the absolute best person in the entire world times a million, she agreed. When everyone went to bed Zach and Valeria decided to watch Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith because it is a perfect movie. Zach promptly fell asleep on Valeria and she watched the entire movie by herself and slept not a wink all night long :')

Valeria gets her first job as a Barista in Portland after graduating college. Zach goes home to do tree work. She starts visiting Zach on weekends and days off, taking a bus to Seattle, and a ferry across the puget sound. Coworkers ask, "why are you always going to Seattle?" It's extremely romantic traveling via water at dusk to see someone. She falls in love with the boat, and then the boy.

Zach moves into the house his brother Andrew buys in January. It is cold and a little empty. There is an old couch in the kitchen and the walls are not yet fully painted. Valeria visits this big blue house as much as she is able. March is still dark and cold but one night Zach asks her, "will you be my girlfriend?".

Valeria's family decides to move from Oregon to Southern California. Valeria does not want to go to California because it is terrible there and sun is too hot. Valeria instead accepts the invitation to move in to The Manor which at this point also houses 5 other people. She tells herself it is just like "Friends". Valeria is Chandler (she is actually Monica).

Zach and Valeria go to Walla Walla for beautiful Brielle's graduation. All is merry and well until Brielle's family get too excited and start asking marriage things. Zach and Valeria are walking along outside talking about this when Zach says, "I don't care about marriage but I'll marry you right here and now on this sidewalk if you want".

Zach asks Valeria to marry him countless times over the years and Valeria says yes every time. In 2020, during the middle of the pandemic, they start designing Valeria's engagement ring. He takes inspiration from pictures she's shown him and says rose cut stones look like a domed greenhouse. Valeria draws a single stoned ring with 6 leaf shaped prongs and a wonderful local jeweler brings it to life. They receive the ring in the mail the day Valeria has her wisdom teeth out, and Zach shows her the ring and asks her to marry him once again. High on pain meds and mouth stuffed with cotton balls, Valeria says "yhhhqg".

Zach is nervous about planning a proposal but starts putting ideas together. Valeria is impatient to wear her ring and also starts putting ideas together. She researches and googles and buys an engagement ring. In late August, she banishes everyone from the bedroom, decorates, and writes. When Zach comes home there is a sign, and a question, and a ring. There is a small box made of yew wood. Valeria cries. Zach reads. They wear their rings.