On November 14, 2020, in the midst of a dystopian pandemic, a green-eyed twenty-seven-year-old D.C.-area native (Bebe) and a brown-eyed twenty-nine-year-old North Carolinian (David) met in person for the very first time. Bebe was wearing jeans and a navy-and-cream top, and David wore an olive-green shirt and chinos. David gratefully remembers that Bebe was standing on the stoop outside of a D.C.-area bar called Provision No. 14, ready to greet him and ease their way into all the unknowns and anticipation of their first date. Quickly, the unknown felt quite familiar to both, as they melted into a four-hour-long conversation about their mutual Mock Trial days (two attorneys dating in D.C., what do you expect?) and Bebe's keen love for reality TV (Southern Charm, to speak to David's regional sensibilities). They left that night electrified by their comfort with one another, ease of laughter, and easiness on the eyes.

David did his homework that same night, Southern Charm[ing] Bebe by watching the show post-date and regaling her via texts with his quippy commentary. Bebe alerted her Maid of Honor (Aly) that David was "super funny and our humor matched, so will go out again and just see how it goes!" From there, the dates traveled from 14th Street, D.C. to Bethesda, MD (Bebe's hometown), where Bebe once beguiled David into a jaunty seven-mile walk along the Capital Crescent Trail, ending in a chilly outdoor dinner at the iconic Uncle Julio's, where David "kept warm" in a flannel shirt buttoned up to his neck. Silver Diner milkshakes capped the night, and soon, the sweetest feeling for both was seeing each other's names pop up on their phones more frequently each passing day.

By early 2021, Bebe was poised to confront David: "What are your intentions with me?" David kindly replied, "to date you." Bebe recoiled. In reality, she wanted the same but wanted to be careful to nurture their budding romance. A few weeks later, on February 27, 2021, in the Tower Oaks restaurant parking lot, a panicked Bebe asked David, "why haven't you asked me to be your girlfriend yet?" (as if he hadn't tried to before!). The rest is history.

Central to our love story is the same sense of familiarity, ease, comfort, humor, gentleness, patience, courageousness, trust, forgiveness, compassion, and excitement that we felt in those early, blisteringly cold wintery days. We find peace with each other, always. We both adore our families and friends deeply and cherish the time we share with them. Our hearts take flight no matter what we're doing together: sitting on a couch watching movies or literally on a flight to a new long-weekend adventure destination. The ordinariness of our steadfast companionship is what's most extraordinary. We are so thankful to have found each other and to share our lives together, forever. And we are most grateful that we have the love and support of so many dear ones to cheer us on and reinforce our commitment to one another. Thank you for being a part of our story.