The first time I laid eyes on Alyssa, I was instantly smitten. I remember thinking she was the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen, even if she was 5 inches taller than me at the time. I was always too nervous to approach or speak to her, until one summer day when the families of the Filipino group went fishing. After months of crushing on her from a distance, she ended up being the one to approach me during the fishing trip. I remember her being so friendly and kind, and I was extremely nervous. It was then that she gave me her phone number, and we started our friendship. We texted all the time, becoming closer as time passed. Unfortunately for me, she began dating other people, and I became a friend on the sidelines.

Eventually, I learned to let go of these emotions and prioritize being a good friend, but then the roles reversed, and I was the one being pursued, with no intention to reciprocate her feelings. When one of us was interested, the other wasn't, and the timing was never right. Our friendship took a nosedive shortly after, and we stopped speaking to one another. I remember showing up to her Sweet Sixteen to be courteous and cordial, and ended up being one of the Sixteen Roses that danced with her. You can imagine how awkward that was. After that, we never spoke again.

Eight years would pass before we would start talking to one another again, and we both had changed significantly since our last meeting. I was on the verge of leaving the Army and preparing for my transition to civilian life, pursuing a career in law enforcement in San Jose, California. With all my ducks in a row, I was ready to begin my life anew. But God had other plans and brought Alyssa back into my life. In the end, I knew I had to trust God and take a leap of faith, so in the very last moments, I pivoted my entire life to move back to Florida to be with her. It was the scariest and most chaotic thing I’ve done to date, and it was the best decision I ever made.

- JC

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