It all started in August 2022, when a new tenant moved into my mom’s studio apartment. Every week when my mom and I would catch up on the phone, I would hear something new about the tenant such as him fixing the wifi, the printer, or the plumbing. At the time, I was living in North Carolina, dancing for a small ballet company.

Fast forward to August 2023, I came home for a visit and finally met him. Jonathan had just returned from rollerblading with friends in Boston. He walked in, smiling ear to ear, and before I knew it, I was completely taken by his joyful smile, kind eyes, and curly hair.

He invited me to have tea with him, in which he prepped everything on his own (usually I’m the one to play hostess), and we were magnetically engaged in conversation for hours into the night. Every night after that this became our routine. We learned everything about each other.

Four days before I left, after a night out with one of my friends I texted him wondering if he’d like to eat some of the late night pizza I’d ordered for myself. He accepted. When I arrived home that night, I was greeted by him sitting cross-legged at the door entrance waiting for me. I shared how my night went and we chatted for a while. Before we said good night, he gave me a hug for the first time and we stayed like that for a while, until I finally kissed him.

We started our relationship long-distance until I knew it was time for me to return to Boston. We’ve been building our life together ever since.

I love Jonathan more than I’ve ever loved anyone, and I can’t wait to celebrate our marriage with everyone we love in 2026.

In June of 2022, I had just accepted a new job in Waltham, Massachusetts, and was preparing to move across the country from Salt Lake City. Between packing up my life, earning my PhD from the University of Utah, and keeping my German Shepherd Kato entertained, I was also trying to find a place to live near Boston that wasn’t wildly out of my budget.

After hours of scrolling through listings that looked either haunted or outrageously overpriced, I stumbled upon a newly listed studio apartment that looked way too nice for what it was asking. Surrounded by woods, a beautiful home attached, great location… I was convinced it was a scam. It had only been up for about three hours when I reached out anyway, figuring what’s the worst that could happen.

To my surprise, it was very much real and the landlord turned out to be Margaret Karg, Geneviève’s mom. During our first video call, we immediately hit it off. We talked about everything from dogs (she grew up with German Shepherds) to Salt Lake City (where I was moving from and where she still had family). It felt more like chatting with an old friend than applying for an apartment. Before I knew it, I was signing the lease and moving into what I didn’t realize yet would be the most significant address of my life.

Over that first year, I became close with her mom and their little Bichon Frisé Cashew, who quickly joined Kato and me on daily walks. We’d stroll through the surrounding woods and chat about life, travel, and, more often than not, her oldest daughter Geneviève. I got to know her first through these stories: the ballet dancer living in North Carolina, dancing professionally and teaching others, someone full of grace and drive.

Then came August 2023. I got home from rollerblading with friends one evening and there she was, back home visiting. She greeted me at the door with her baby kitten Lacie and I was immediately struck by her warm smile and the kind of presence that makes everything else fade away for a moment, even the pain of rollerblading 18 miles.

We started talking that night over tea. Before I knew it, three hours had passed. That became our routine for the rest of her visit.

Four days before she left, she texted me late one night after being out with friends asking if I wanted to get pizza. Naturally, I said yes. When she got home, we ate and talked for a while. She shared about her night and when we hugged goodbye, something felt different. We stayed like that for a few seconds, and before the hug was over, she kissed me.

To me, that was the moment that started our relationship, one that began long-distance. Not long after, she moved back to Boston, and we’ve been building our life together ever since.