Camille and Sebastian met on the first day of college, and spent the next 2 years trying not to fall in love. Ultimately, they were unsuccessful… this is their story:

Sebastian: My first impression of Camille was that the moment she walked through the door, she was the coolest, prettiest girl in the room that everyone had been waiting for!

Camille: My first impression of Sebastian was that he was ridiculous, goofy, and entirely too confident for his own good! But he sure knew how to have a fun time and not take things too seriously

Our friendship began in the Kurth Lobby of the Freshman dorms at Southwestern University. We were part of a big group that spent all day hanging out and playing games together. One of our favorite activities was midnight picnics under the Story Tree, gazing at the stars.

One evening, when most of our friends had already left for Thanksgiving break, we found ourselves alone on one of these late-night picnics. That was the first time we kissed!

The Chemistry was undeniable… we had a similar sense of humor and loved spending time together, but the timing was always off. We naturally gravitated toward each other and were practically inseparable, but Camille (being a slow burner) chose to play the role of wingman instead of love interest. Sebastian, meanwhile, waited patiently—perhaps too patiently—in the friend zone. Even when his friends (and even a few of his girlfriends too) told Camille that Sebastian was in love with her, she didn’t quite believe it. But when she finally decided to take her shot, she found that Sebastian had (surprise!) friendzoned her in return. (It's giving Kordell and Serena from Love Island vibes!)

For a while, we went through a complicated phase of on-and-off friendship—being friends with someone you love (whether you realize it or not) is no easy feat. We both refused to date, maybe out of stubbornness or pride. But fate had other plans, and despite our best efforts, we couldn’t deny that we were meant to be the best of friends.

Then one day, Sebastian got a coupon for a "Red Lobster Dinner for Two" and a thought popped into his head—maybe he should ask Camille on a date. (Spoiler: he didn’t actually do it.) But the idea was there, and Camille could practically see the light bulb flicker on. Suddenly, he was playing his favorite Fry and Leela episodes from Futurama every time we hung out.

When Sebastian left for his annual beach trip that year, we missed each other so much that we texted and called every day. By his birthday, we realized we were already dating. A month later, he told Camille he loved her for the first time and apologized for waiting so long to say it. Within six months, he had a key to her apartment, and before the year was over, we signed our first lease together.

Despite a rocky start, we spent the next seven years completely in love. Living together was easy, because we were best friends. We shared the love and eventual loss of our first dog, Mina. We supported each other through career highs and lows, and even the pandemic brought us closer. We learned that no matter the hardship, we could get through anything as long as we leaned on each other.

Just days before Sebastian’s 27th birthday, our world came to a sudden halt. On July 17, 2021, during the final day of our vacation, Sebastian unexpectedly suffered a brain aneurysm rupture. That night, during what felt like the longest hours of our lives, he underwent life-saving surgery and was placed in a medical coma. We were told that, due to the severity of the bleed, it was uncertain if he would wake up at all—but Sebastian, being Sebastian, woke up the next day.

Due to the strain on the medical system from the Delta wave of COVID-19, only one visitor was allowed in the ICU at a time, with a maximum of two visitors total for his stay. Camille and Sebastian’s mom, Jen, devised a plan and told hospital staff that Camille was his wife, so they could both take shifts caring for him.

For those unfamiliar with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) or strokes, doctors rarely provide clear outcomes because of the uncertainty. Some nurses gave Camille a stark reality check, warning her of the long and difficult road ahead. One nurse even feared Sebastian might not remember her at all. Despite this, Camille put her career on hold and stayed in Corpus Christi to be by his side every moment she could. But when Sebastian was finally able to speak, the first thing he said when asked about Camille was, “Why, that’s my beautiful wife, of course.”

At home, Camille was heartbroken, scared, and overwhelmed. But in the hospital, she and Jen maintained an unspoken rule: no negativity. Sebastian remembers only hope and positivity from that time, even if it was the most terrifying experience of their lives.

The next year Sebastian spent in recovery and after countless frustrating and rewarding hours of therapy—physical, cognitive, verbal, visual, and behavioral—Sebastian is back to his goofy self, if somewhat improved (he likes chocolate now)!

They adopted their puppy Sasha together, and both went back to work full time to restart their careers from where they left off. In Early April of 2024 Camille was recognized by her work and invited to her company’s leadership summit in Orlando Florida, so naturally a trip to Disney World was in order.

Stay tuned...