In September 2023, Carlyn’s friends, Will and Emily, insisted on taking Carlyn to the New York Renaissance Faire in Tuxedo Park. Carlyn wasn’t in the mood to go out, let alone be surrounded by crowds. But her friends, with just the right mix of persistence and affection, managed to coax her out of the house, determined to lift her spirits and remind her how to have fun. The multiple cups of ale, also helped.

Elsewhere in the fairegrounds, Justin was arriving with his best friend Tim; invited by their friend Sofie. He, too, hadn’t planned on making much of the outing, but let himself be carried along by the whim of the day.

As the separate groups arrived to the faire and eventually crossed paths, something shifted. A few more drinks were shared, and laughter began to echo more freely. Carlyn and Justin found themselves drawn to one another with a quiet but unmistakable pull.

It wasn’t thought to be much at first, as Carlyn and Justin had already known of one another for a few years. They moved through the same circles, attended the same gatherings, and shared mutual friends. But their previous encounters, conversations, had always been brief and forgettable.


So here they were, at this Renaissance Faire, dressed up, drinking ale, and seeing the other for what felt like the first time. What began as casual conversation quickly turned into something more. There was a spark; genuine and sudden; that neither of them could ignore.

By the time the sun began to set and the day drew to a close, both Carlyn and Justin were asking their friends the same question: “Should I ask them out?” And to no one’s surprise, these friends all answered with a resounding, “NO!”

Luckily, Carlyn and Justin had never been the best at taking advice.