Ben & Morgan
Ben & Morgan
Our Story
Our Story
Morgan had always been close with Rebecca, Ben’s older sister. Rebecca had always talked of her brother, Ben— but their paths had never really crossed. Until one evening, nearly a decade later, when Ben slid into her DMs. It started with a simple message, a line that would have been cheesy in anyone else’s hands but sounded kind of perfect coming from him: “Did you use the stupefy spell on me? Or are you always this stunning?" From there, it was easy. The conversation flowed, back and forth, funny and flirty, until the topic shifted from Harry Potter to real life. They quickly discovered that, like many people in their late twenties, they were both living in Cincinnati—Ben finishing his degree at the University of Cincinnati, Morgan in her second year of graduate school.
They shared more than just a city. Both were single, both navigating the world of post-college life, both caught somewhere between feeling like grown-ups and still figuring it out. Despite knowing Rebecca for so long, Morgan had never realized how much she had in common with her friend’s little brother. After a couple of weeks of text messages and late-night conversations, they agreed to meet up at Mad Tree Brewing for a drink. They met on a cold winter night, Ben forgetting his coat. He looked a little taller than she remembered from high school, a little more confident but still very much that same goofy, easygoing guy from Rebecca’s stories. They spent the next couple of hours talking about everything and nothing. When the time came to say goodbye, they walked out together, chatting about what to do next, though neither of them seemed in a hurry to part. Ben paused, standing a few feet away from Morgan, waving "goodbye". Morgan asked if he wanted a hug. Ben blinked, a little taken aback by her casual directness. But then, without missing a beat, he broke into a grin. “I think that’d be nice.” They exchanged one last look, both silently agreeing that they didn’t want this to end just yet. As Ben waved, this time a little less awkwardly, Morgan felt the familiar thrill of something new beginning. Something that wasn’t rushed, wasn’t forced, but felt like it had been quietly unfolding all along.
The Proposal
It was Christmas Eve day, and Morgan and Ben were already feeling the magic of the holiday season. They’d spent the morning at Morgan’s grandparents' house, surrounded by family, laughter, and the warmth of Christmas traditions. The morning had been filled with all the usual merriment, but little did Morgan know, Ben had something extraordinary planned for later.
After the family gathering, Ben drove Morgan to Spavia, a spa where she had a reservation for an hour-long massage. It was the perfect way for Morgan to relax and unwind, especially after the busy holiday morning. While she settled in for her treatment, Ben took the opportunity to slip away and head back to their house, where his real surprise was waiting.
At home, Ben had transformed their kitchen into something that felt both intimate and festive. The table was set with beautiful details: Christmas lights, candles flickering softly, and the kind of carefully curated touch that would make any dinner party host proud. Morgan loved table settings—she adored the art of creating the perfect ambiance for a meal, and Ben had put so much thought into making this setting something she’d never forget. To make it even more special, Ben had also stopped by the local Juicery they used to visit when they were dating.
He also had a book in hand, a surprise that would take Morgan on a trip down memory lane. The book was filled with pictures from their last five years together: snapshots of vacations, family gatherings, little inside jokes, and moments that had defined their relationship. As she flipped through the pages, each one came with a sweet message from Ben, expressing all the reasons he loved her. The pages were full of thoughtful reflections on their journey together—how she made him laugh, how she supported him, how she made everything feel brighter. And then, on the last page, there was a question.
It simply read, “Will you marry me?”. At that moment, as Morgan looked up from the book, she saw Ben, standing before her, down on one knee, holding out a ring.
Tears filled Morgan’s eyes, and her heart raced. Everything about this moment felt so incredibly personal—so perfectly them. The love, the memories, the details, the thoughtfulness—it was all there. The room was filled with the glow of the Christmas lights and the warmth of their shared history. And in that perfect moment, Morgan nodded, breathlessly saying, “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
Ben slipped the ring onto her finger, and they embraced, laughing and crying all at once.