French novelist Marcel Proust once said, “Love is space and time measured by the heart”. This has proven true in Justine’s and my relationship, as you will soon see. Our story began some 15 years ago. Although we spent little time together, there was something there, a spark, from the moment we saw each other. It seems cliché; but it’s true, there was a spark between us at first sight.

Our love story, however, was not yet to be written. Life, as it often does, had other plans for us before our happily ever after was to begin. They say that true love will always find a way. It’s an age-old adage that in our relationship has proven itself to be true.

In 2018, I (Rufus) had just relocated back to my hometown of Alexandria. Justine was house sitting for her mother, Mrs. Pam. I remember receiving a message from her, just small talk about our lives and how we had been since the last time we spoke. This conversation eventually led to an invitation for a home-cooked dinner, an invitation I happily accepted. We spent that evening catching up on lost time. Fast forward just one month, and I knew I wanted to be a part of Justine’s life and to make her a part of mine. So we began our relationship and the start of what I would eventually recognize as my forever.

Just three months into our relationship, Justine was offered a job in West Virginia that would require her to relocate. She accepted the offer, and I knew that I was not ready to watch her venture out of my life again. This held true for Justine as well. After a year of daily phone calls and communication, I found myself on a flight to West Virginia. Meant to be a short trip, my stay was extended due to the COVID outbreak. I look back at that trip, and all the variables that had to fall into place, with a heart of gratitude and thankfulness because shortly after my return to Alexandria, Justine made the decision to move back home. And so, one week after my return, I loaded up and made the drive back to West Virginia to pack up Justine’s apartment and to bring her home.

We rented a home, and our love story began that only prospered with each passing day. Fast forward to September 28, 2023, we were purchasing our first home together, and little did Justine know that this would also be the day I ask her to be my forever. As the agency was taking our photo holding the symbolic oversized key, I dropped to one knee. I told her it was “only right that we enter this home with the same last name,” and I asked, “Will you marry me?”

Justine, along with the others in the room, were completely surprised. Very much to my favor, she said, “Yes.” Since that day, we have slowly turned our house into a home, with our love for one another continuing to strengthen with each passing day. If you have taken the time to read our story, please know that I am thankful and joyously look forward to the day that Justine Luneau finally becomes Mrs. Justine Fells.