Some love stories are unexpected. For William and Amelia, it all began in an unlikely place: Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. In the middle of a deployment, they both swiped right on a dating app, not knowing it would lead them here.

Their first date was at Starbucks, a place that felt like a tiny slice of home. What was supposed to be a quick twenty-minute meet-up turned into a three-hour conversation they didn’t want to end. As William headed back to his side of the base, he was grinning from ear to ear—only to realize later that Amelia had seen him walking to his bike smiling and was on her way to her quarters with a smile just as big, already feeling the start of something special.

Life on opposite sides of the base didn’t give them much time to see each other. Between schedules and duties, they only had a few brief moments to hang out. And then, just like that, William went on leave to the States for a month. Despite having only seen each other for less than a week, neither of them could shake the feeling that they wanted something more. Within days of being apart, it was clear this was just the beginning, and William asked Amelia to be his girlfriend.

That month apart was filled with late-night phone calls and FaceTimes that only deepened their connection. Finally, after weeks of counting down, they reunited late one night near the base community center, close to midnight. Amelia had waited for hours, and when they saw each other again, it was with a big hug that said everything words couldn’t.

Their journey may have started unexpectedly, but it’s been nothing short of perfect. They can’t wait to keep writing their story together, with all of you alongside them.