Freshman year of high school, 2013.

Ashley: On our way to a cross country meet in Yucca Valley, bridesmaid Miriam was yelling by my side trying to get someone's attention. I offered to help, so I yelled out a boy's name whom I've never interacted with. "CARLOS!! Do you have food?" *big smile*. Carlos generously passed back two double chocolate fudge cookies. Carlos thought, this poor girl is probably hungry. Ashley thought this boy is so generous I want to get to know him.

Carlos: I was in the front section of the school bus minding my own business until I heard someone shout my name. It was so loud there was no way I couldn't have heard it. I turned around and a girl asked me with a big smile if I had food. I looked at her and thought, "Oh, she must be so hungry." I looked into my duffel bag and saw my last two snacks: double chocolate chip cookies. At first thought, I honestly wanted to keep them but knew these cookies weren't meant for me. I passed them back, she received them, and that was that. For the rest of the bus ride, I could only think about how loud her voice was and how I didn't have anymore snacks.

Ashley: This night was the Novi vs La Sierra Football game. Earlier that day I had made plans to go to the game however when I asked for permission I was told no. Upset, I let Carlos and bridesmaid Yael know I needed to cancel and wallowed in bed. After some time had past bridesmaid Alondra asked if I could go with her to the game. Once we arrived we split up to meet up with our respective friends. Yael spent the game with her family, so it was just Carlos and myself. As the evening proceeded the weather got more chilly. To not take Carlos's sweater I just held his hands to warm up. After some time Carlos put his arm around me and kissed my check. Gently I felt kisses all along my cheek until they were close to my lips, but not quite. I could feel his warmth my hearth racing and my hands starting to sweat. Then we kissed. All I could think was what is happening, am I doing this correctly, and slowly all the racing thoughts faded away.

Carlos: I remember making plans to watch the Novi v. La Sierra game with Ashley. I asked my mom to take me, but when Ashley told me she couldn't go, I told my mom I also wouldn't be going. Some time passed and I noticed I received a message from Ashley. She was now going to the game and her cousin, Alondra, would be taking her. In the moment I laughed because I knew I had to again ask my mom to take me. Thankfully, she said yes. When I arrived, my entire focus was on finding Ashley. I looked up to the bleachers and saw her with an amazing black top and bright red pants. She was stunning. The night was cold and she did not have a sweater, so I pulled her in and grabbed her hands. I could feel us warming up, I loved how close we were. I kissed her cheek, over and over again, I was nervous. I finally reached her lips, they felt so perfect. I wasn't even thinking about the game or the people around us. It was as if we were the only two in the stadium.

Ashley: It's my Quinceñera day, I had decided to dance three different surprise dances and one was a salsa with Carlos. I was rushing between transitions and had turned to rush to change into my last outfit when I was pulled back. I was really confused and shocked when I turned and saw him holding a little white box. He opened it and it was a heart necklace. We were both really nervous, he struggled to put it on. Afterward my mom help put the necklace on and he walked over to the DJ. The music began and Carlos sang to me. I was no longer rushing but simply in the moment.

Carlos: My performance for her was on the spot. I didn't schedule this beforehand with the family or the DJ. I walked up to Ashley's uncle, Erick, and told him what I wanted to do. Thankfully, he helped me set everything up with the DJ; once Ashley and I finished our surprise salsa dance, I made my move. I was nervous the entire time, I even forgot some of the lyrics in the beginning. I looked her in the eyes and lost myself; it felt as if it were only us there. All I remember was seeing her watery eyes and enormous, radiating smile. I couldn't help but smile back. Once the song ended, I pulled out a gift enclosed in a small box. At that moment, I heard really loud gasps and as I opened the box, the crowd grew a little louder. Everyone was confused thinking I was about to propose. I pulled out a pink necklace, got close to her, and actually struggled to latch it around her neck. I was a bit embarrassed her mom had to take over, but that truly was a special moment.

Carlos: Again, this is was spontaneous. We had just finished up a stay at UCLA Raza Weekend before our freshman year and were celebrating at the dance. Our senior high school prom was coming up soon and I had yet to ask her to be my date. Naturally, we assumed we would go together but I wanted to make it special. I went up in front of everyone -- all the incoming freshmen, and staff-- and asked Ashley to join me on-stage. I recall saying that out of all the people at UCLA, she would be the only one for me. It still surprises me how we are together after all these years.

Ashley: We were at Raza weekend and prom was not too far out. During this weekend we had several activities, one of the last activities was a Raza Dance. There was a moment Carlos told me he would be right back and slipped alway. Next thing I know Carlos is on stage and the Dj is calling out for his girlfriend. I froze as was unsure what was going on and I just looked at the stage. After a few seconds I heard a girl to my right say "if his gf won't go up I will". That immediately snapped out of my head and caused me to walk to the stage. Carlos gave a beautiful speech expressing he would still choose me despite the thousands of girls at UCLA and sang Amarte a La Antigua again.

Thankfully we befriended several individuals who saw and recorded this moment and saved a few snippets for us to go back to.

Ashley: As we continued to grow there were moments my own trauma and fears arose in our relationship. I engaged in behaviors I was not proud of and learned I needed to work on myself to better show up in our relationship. College time from college prep to earning our degrees was a journey like no other. These were the years we faced highs and lows both together and apart. These years were filled with mistakes, love, fun, and lessons. Often I felt frustrated in the moments I could not understand myself. Over time we began learning to address inner child wounds. Discovering who we are came with its own challenges but also many more lessons. We began entering uncomfortable spaces in the sense of inner work. Facing unprocessed emotions allowed for self reflection in what aspects my fear was showing up in my behaviors.

Carlos: I came from a place of hurt and lashed out like a child. There were so many emotions I didn't know I had and I never took the time to process them. I honestly didn't know how. College was a place I had no oversight; no one was there to tell me right from wrong, so many times I made the wrong choices.

I caused a lot of hurt to Ashley and had no idea how much damage I had done. At first, I thought I was crazy or insane because I felt no emotion. It was like I was numb to the pain I caused. Down the line, I would feel sudden bursts of guilt and sadness once I realized how alone I was. Unconsciously, I would self-sabotage personal relationships to avoid emotionally attaching to anyone who showed me love. I felt I was undeserving of the love they had to offer, so I would isolate myself. I like my space and I like being alone, but I hated feeling alone. To this day, I yet to understand myself completely.

Carlos: From the beginning of our relationship, I felt this would be it. I wanted this relationship to be my last. I would bring Ashley flowers every month in our first year together and write her letters. I held her hand and kissed her every chance I got. I hoped to be the same loving and caring person and partner to Ashley throughout our time together, but I knew that people change and sometimes not for the better. Sometimes life gets in the way and we forget to serve our partners, thinking only about our needs. If I were to ever lose my way, "Amarte a la Antigua" would be the perfect song to remind me of my romantic and giving self. It would be a lie to say I haven't been selfish, but Ashley keeps showing me her love every single day. That is priceless. She deserves the world and more.

It has definitely been a struggle to challenge my own thoughts, as well as accept Ashley's. Obviously, I would like for us to agree on everything but that's not how a partnership works. Every decision I make will not only affect me, but also Ashley and our future family. I HAVE to take her into account; that is non-negotiable.

Ashley: Over the years we have definitely learned from our different struggles and how to grow to overcome those experiences. Over the years we have done work in different spaces and taken distinct approaches. I believe the work we have do so far has taught us acceptance, boundaries, limits and above all allowed us to demonstrate LOVE like Jesus. I once heard an elder give a speech that expressed to the newly weds in weddings everyone talks about the highs if there is real love I want to hear how you got through the lows. For me that re-affirmed we are not perfect but we are on the right path. As we continue our journey I have faith in God that he will continue to help us if another struggle arises, as well as be by our side during the joyful moments.