Inyeon is the Korean idea relating fate and destiny to those we meet throughout our life. Those we have the strongest relationships, or perhaps the “most” inyeon with, are those we were destined to meet: the karmic forces of the universe could not have it any other way. This is sometimes thought to be due to our past lives. Perhaps the people we are drawn to are those whose souls we were intertwined with centuries and centuries ago. Typically this is symbolized by a red thread connecting two souls, regardless of their distance to one another. To those familiar with Taylor Swift, this is essentially like an invisible string. I say all this to introduce our story, because the idea is always how I have felt about the experience I have had meeting, befriending, and falling in love with Erika Eyssen. No doubt exists in my entire being, that I was meant to meet her. As I got to know her it became clearer and clearer that this was not someone new entering my life, but rather an intrinsic piece of myself that had been missing, and I would have spent a lifetime searching for, had I not met Erika. In 2019, Erika and I both headed to western New York to begin our college careers. Erika was prepping to swim Division I at Canisius College, and I was near-ish at RIT, ready to study math. Despite the two of us ending up in such near vicinity, this is not where our story begins. In 2020, I transferred back to Ohio to attend THE Ohio State University. I had never met Erika, nor even knew who she was, and had just moved three hours farther away yet, Ohio State became the reason we ever met. Through a job fair at OSU, I ended up being brought on at 1st Day School Supplies, where everything eventually began. It was both of our first summers there, and we never spoke a single word to one other. One of the most social work environments imaginable and we were invisible to one another. The next summer, we both returned for another year and this time our paths actually crossed. As that summer ended, a beautiful… friendship began. We went to Barnes & Noble once before the end of summer and I gifted her a damaged copy of one of my favorite books. I vividly remember it as a date; she does not (weird). Regardless, we stayed in touch: texting daily, best friends on Snapchat, and FaceTiming weekly (I later learned was a big deal!). Erika became the person I wanted to tell everything to: the good, the bad and the mundane. She was becoming my best friend. What I had of her in Columbus was a hair tie of hers which I wore on my wrist for months as a reminder of her. I consider myself something of a yearner. I found myself constantly wanting to see her again above all else. I tried twice to visit her, and both times were canceled (by her). Despite the distance and urgings from my friends telling me it was time to move on, I knew I wanted Erika in my life. So, I ignored all the noise. That’s what real yearners do! Over that winter break, we ended up back at the spot of our non-date, and I threw a Hail Mary: New Year’s Eve in Columbus with me. She claims this was her idea, but I think we have enough evidence here to support that was not the case. Regardless, she said yes. We spent three days together with great meals, great movies, and great friends and on New Year’s Eve everything fell into place (outside of a poorly time missed OSU field goal at exactly midnight). From January 1st onwards, our life together began: teaching-related stresses, my favorite movies became our favorite movies, Taylor Swift in the car, and endless laughs. This past summer, I decided to finally ask the big question. Despite Erika’s efforts to thwart the perfect moment, by some divine intervention not a single speck of sand was out of place. On June 9th, 2025, she said yes and the next chapter of our life began. I am thankful for this beautiful life we have and for any inyeon or invisible strings that may be to thank for drawing us together. May we build a long, happy life together.