After relocating from Florida to Atlanta, Georgia after college I quickly immersed myself into my craft - education. This especially held true after losing my best friend and grandfather. I dedicated my life to my job, teaching, and continuing my education. My social life at this time was nearly nonexistent.

A huge shoutout to my amazing coworkers for helping me get out of my grieving funk. They were there for me when I needed support the most, offering encouragement and a few laughs when things felt heavy. One of the best things they did was convince me to download a dating app. At first, I wasn’t sure about it, but they were so persistent, and I’m so glad they pushed me to give it a try. It’s been a great way to meet new people, step out of my comfort zone, and start moving forward.

Shortly after Gabe swiped right, he entered my message inbox, and let me tell you—he was persistent! After messaging back and forth, exchanging numbers, and texting for a while, I finally agreed to a first date at one of our now favorite spots, Bar Taco. He made me pick him up, haha—red flag, right? He said he was staying at a hotel in the area, and I thought it was for work. But little did I know, he had driven all the way from Tennessee to Atlanta just to meet me!

On the way to picking him up, I decided to call Gabe when I got close to let him know to be outside. He answered, and after just one word, I had to stop him immediately to comment on his thick country accent. I’ll never forget his response: “I may sound country, but I don’t do country things.” I couldn’t help but laugh. After hanging up, I immediately called my Nana to tell her all about this guy I was about to meet... and his accent.

We had a great first date, and by the end of it, Gabe was already asking to make plans for the very next day. I was hesitant thinking it might be too soon, but I couldn’t deny that I liked him. After the date, I called my Nana again to tell her all about it. I couldn’t help but brag about Gabe’s charm, his intelligence, and the way he carried himself as a gentleman.

Over the next year, Gabriel admitted that he actually lived in Tennessee, but traveled frequently to Dalton, GA, NOT ATLANTA, for work. Despite the distance, Gabe made many trips to come see me, and we had the most amazing weekends together. He was eager to move a little faster than I was into the zones of commitment. Truth be told, I wasn’t ready to dive into a long-distance relationship—I wanted no part of it.

Our communication was on and off for a while, largely because of my unwillingness to give him the time of day with the distance between us. But then, out of the blue one day, I received a phone call that changed everything. Gabe said, “I’m moving to DeKalb!” I was confused at first because, honestly, nobody just says, "I’m moving to DeKalb"—they’d say Atlanta, not the specific county name. But then he revealed that he had a job opportunity he was going to take in Atlanta. I tried to play it cool, but secretly, I was ecstatic. I couldn't believe it. I couldn’t help but feel a little relieved and excited about what was to come.

From that moment on, we’ve been inseparable. Gabe quickly stole my heart and, without even trying, became my best friend in the process. He is everything I prayed for—kind, loving, and strong—and the man my late grandfather would’ve wanted for me. He’s the one I want to build a life and a family with, and most importantly, he’s the man I refuse to let live a single day without me. Every moment with him feels like a blessing, and I’m so grateful to have found someone who not only completes me but makes me feel truly seen and loved.

Wedding Party