…October 2012.

At the time, Alfredo and Barrett were bright-eyed university students. Alfredo had just returned to Houston from studying animation at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) to instead pursue a degree in Public Relations at University of Houston. As an English major, Barrett was applying for entry into University of Houston's celebrated Creative Writing undergraduate program.

To make ends meet, Barrett worked in a cinema box office near his parents' home. Rachael Matthews, a lovable cinephile, was a regular customer and mutual friend of both Alfredo and Barrett.

Alfredo and Rachael knew each other from high school. Barrett knew Rachael as his movie-buff friend who lit up the cinema with every visit.

Rachael began bringing Alfredo around the box office and… the rest is history. As both boys texted Rachael about the other, she finally gave them the green light they each needed: "Text him!" she urged them both.

Alfredo and Barrett began dating on December 2, 2012.

Through the tail-end of university, through first apartments, a dog, career liftoffs and shifts, weddings, funerals, and more, Alfredo and Barrett have been each other's north stars for over a decade.

Registry