Edward and Lani met in High School back in 2000. Being in similar social circles, they became friends and bonded through participation in artistic endeavors. Lani had found a deep affection for Edward, but fearing rejection, she stayed his friend and admired him from afar. Edward having taken notice of Lani's kindness and sense of humor, enjoyed spending time with her. Often finding her natural beauty attractive, he thought she was not interested in him romantically. After high school, and the first couple years of college, Edward moved out to North Carolina- while Lani stayed in California. Reconnecting after a few years over Facebook the two picked up their friendship like no time had passed at all.

Their friendship was deeply rooted in respect, joy, and admiration and despite many hardships and even arguments between each other their bond held strong. Though their connection was remote, they were known to lean on each other during difficult times in other relationships, and share their stories and experiences throughout life through hilarious, sentimental, and lengthy phone conversations, and video chatting sessions. Over time their bond began to bloom into more than just friendship.

In 2017 Lani had become single, and Edward, having been single felt the core spark of their connection work its magic. While Lani was absolutely distraught over dating prospects in California, Edward responded with a quick "You know... why don't we become a couple?" and Lani, in utter disbelief and shock, assumed him to be joking and laughed with him about the idea- not knowing that he was serious.

It wasn't until one fateful night when Lani and Janelle were talking with Edward on the phone that, after hearing the natural chemistry between Edward and Lani, Janelle blurted out a question that changed the course of everything, "Edward... do you have romantic feelings for Lani?" There wasn't even a hesitation as he answered quite simply and honestly, "Yes" and a bomb hit Lani's brain and heart that forever changed her.

"I didn't sleep at all that night. I was so shocked and surprised that I had to process this information in chunks. I remember that I left the phone with Janelle (Edward was on speaker) and I paced around our apartment, coming back every so often with questions like 'how long have you had these feelings?!' and he answered ' on and off since high school' I paced around the apartment more- wave after wave of adrenaline and astonishment washing over me 'how deep do these feelings go?!' 'Uhm... as deep as it can go' 'Like an 80s love ballad?' 'Oh, Deeper' and I was smiling ear to ear. I laid awake that night well into the wee hours of the morning, my mind racing. Here I had long since accepted that the cutest guy at my high school and early college years would never be interested in me. I had accepted just being his friend because I enjoyed being around him so much. I didn't care if he wasn't romantically interested, I still cared for him and would do my best to be there for him in any way that I could."

And it was this unconditional caring for him over the years that melted Edward's heart. " We'd talk all the time on the phone... at least every night or every other night for hours. And, I don't know, it just sort of hit me. I knew I wanted to talk with her forever."