This is dedicated to Harrison.

She doesn’t remember much of this day,

but this should help with that.

I love you, honey.

"Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies."

- Aristotle

It was a miracle that this story ever had the chance of being created. Many stars had to align for this perfect love story to begin. So many decisions, so many coincidences, and so many improbabilities, all had to happen to bring two people together, forever. Like all love stories, it took place sometime, somewhere and for this story that time was the seventeenth of August, 2018 and that somewhere was Brownsville, Oregon. However, this isn’t actually where the story begins.

Several days prior to that magical day, the protagonists had decisions to make. The first of many that would eventually bring them together. The lead lady of this amazing story is Harrison Elizabeth Ault. She is best described as being intelligent, beautiful, mature, and charismatic. Harrison had reached out to her long-distance best friend, who she had not seen in some time, about making a trip to come see her. The reason was to attend a music festival happening near where Harrison lived. After working out a few kinks, Natalie agreed to make the drive up and Harrison agreed to host her and a few of her other friends so they could attend the festival together. This is how the story begins.

At nearly the same time, the lead man of the story was faced with his own decision to be made. This man is Kevin Abel. Best described as young, unlearned, and probably just a little too proud. Kevin was playing for the Oregon State Beavers baseball team at the time. Many of his teammates were all planning to attend the festival as well. They had tried to convince him to go, but he wasn’t so sure and didn’t have the money to buy the pass anyway. At this point, it seemed as though this would be where the story would end. However, the day before the festival began, a friend reached out saying that Kevin could get a pass for just $100. An improbability and decision were resolved and made all at once; Kevin would attend the festival.

Now, the day has come. The seventeenth of August 2018, was the second day of the festival. The day the two would meet, but not quite yet. How could two people that have never met each other possibly find one another? At a music festival with thousands of people attending? What could have possibly brought two completely unsuspecting people together? Well, one of the friends, Chloe, that was attending with Harrison, just so happened to know someone that was at the festival named Joey. Joey was from Northern California, where Harrison previously lived and where her friends were from, and Joey also played baseball for Oregon State. Chloe and Joey realized they were at the same festival the day before. The two decided it would be fun for their two groups to hang out the next day at Joey’s campsite. Yet another coincidence and improbability to help the story along.

Kevin, who was attending with his friend Cade were not at Joey’s campsite (yet) as they were just getting settled into the festival. It was their first day there and it seemed like a lot was going on. The two went on to say hi and catch up with their other teammates who were staying nearby. After some time had passed, they remembered that their friend Troy was staying with Joey and set off to find their campsite. With no cell service, it was going to be difficult to figure out where to go. Eventually, the two made it and what Kevin didn’t know then was that it was just in time... Harrison was just getting ready to leave the campsite. Another timely decision and quite possibly the most important one to continue the domino effect of unlikelihood.

Kevin and Cade happily greeted their friends and were eager to start partying with their teammates. Before any of that could happen, the two main characters would finally meet. Harrison and her friends had already been at the campsite for some time. Troy and Joey introduced Kevin and Cade to their friend Chloe and her friends. It was at this moment that Kevin saw Harrison for the first time. As he shook her hand and looked into the beautiful pools of honey that were her eyes, he fell in love. They finished their greeting and they both fell into their own spaces within the group.

At first, the two didn’t say much to each other. Kevin, being too nervous and Harrison being unbothered led to just a few shared glances while sitting with the group. All Kevin could think about was how beautiful he thought she was. Everything about her was stunning to him. He loved her bright and slightly curly blonde hair she had that day. He loved her dress, white with yellow flowers. He loved her smile, so bright and contagious. He loved her eyes that he had already stared at for far too long. He even loved the uniqueness of her name.

How was this story going to continue?

Well the group began to settle in, and conversations were flying around with ease. People were playing games, drinking, and enjoying music. Suddenly, someone had the idea of taking a group picture. Everyone shot up in excitement and huddled together for the photo. Kevin, wanting to be funny, decided he would jump to the front and kick his legs up as a joke to have his friends hold him up. In the process, one of his friends let Kevin slip through their hands and Kevin stumbled. Unbeknownst to Kevin, Harrison was standing right behind him when he stumbled. As he reached out to catch himself from falling, his hand inadvertently landed on Harrison's backside. To make the situation even more embarrassing, his hand slipped beneath her dress, leaving no fabric between his hand and her bare skin. The most crucial of the improbable and coincidental events to happen in this love story.

Kevin regained his balance quickly, with a stiff posture, and a bright red face he began to apologize to Harrison. “Oh my god, I am so sorry! I had no idea! I really didn’t mean to! Please don’t think I’m some sort of creep!” Kevin babbled.

Harrison just sat there giggling with a smirk on her face saying, “It’s okay!" and to Kevin's surprise she followed up with "What's your name again?" He had somehow managed to capture her curiosity rather than repel her.

After somewhat clearing the air, the two of them walked back to sit down. Kevin with his face still red and his body full of embarrassment, and Harrison with a blush rushed on her face and a lightness in her body. As they sat down, they sat closer this time, giving them the chance to talk with one another. Kevin continued to apologize, but also began to ask questions about Harrison. After completely embarrassing himself, what more did he have to lose? At least now he had her attention.

“So where are you from?” asked Kevin.

“Kinda all over. I’ve moved a lot, but mostly in Northern California, Portland, and Vancouver areas,” she replied and asked him the same thing.

Kevin smiled, blushing from the fact that he was even talking to her, “I’m from San Diego, I was born and raised there.”

And just like that the story had truly begun. They talked for what felt like forever, but it was only just a handful of minutes. They learned about each other's childhoods…

“I grew up riding dirt bikes,” Kevin exclaimed,

"me too! we would go camping almost every weekend" responded Harrison.

where they went to school…

“Oregon State!”

“University of Oregon!”,

what they were studying…

“Political Science,” Harrison replied.

All the while, neither of them could stop smiling. Kevin kept falling deeper and deeper in love and Harrison slowly became more interested.

As time went on, they sat closer to one another and the flirting became more apparent. It became clear to Kevin that he had done a lot of things right, but he still had a long way to go. He was nervous. He didn’t want to mess it up. He pondered every word that he spoke and every move he made. He grew more confident though as it seemed with every passing moment Harrison became more interested. Throughout this time, the two of them were drinking with their friends and having a great time. This, of course, helped to keep both of their nerves at bay.

During their time conversing, a few groups of people passed by yelling Kevin’s name and cheering. After the first time, Harrison asked, “Do you know those people?”

Kevin replied, “No, I don’t” and laughed.

“Then how do they know you? And why are they cheering?’

“They must be big Oregon State baseball fans,” Kevin answered. Harrison, slightly confused, accepted the answer for now, but she would get to the bottom of it when she had the chance later.

Later on, the group decided it was time to head towards the stage to enjoy some of the main performers for the day. Harrison and Kevin decided to walk together. It is unknown what provoked Kevin to do what he did next. Along their walk, Kevin made a huge leap and made a big decision… he went to hold her hand! Harrison, naturally shocked and not a fan of PDA in general, surprisingly, didn’t pull away. She left her hand in his and Kevin held on tight. It felt so natural and comfortable.

After a minute or two, with butterflies in his stomach and adrenaline rushing through his body, Kevin made an even bolder decision. A decision that would set the tone for the rest of the night and their lives forever. When no one was looking, Kevin took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and leaned in for a kiss. Harrison, without a second of delay, closed her eyes and happily obliged. The two leaned with anxiousness filling their bodies. Once they connected, sparks were visible for miles. You didn’t even have to see them; you could feel them. As the two pulled away after, they looked into each other’s eyes and all they could do was smile.

Kevin couldn’t believe it. In the span of only a few hours, he had not only met the girl of his dreams, but he had also kissed her. Not only had he kissed her, but he had fallen head over heels in love with her. August seventeenth quickly became Kevin’s favorite day of his life and arguably the most important and influential day as well.

As the sun went down and night crept in, Harrison and Kevin grew closer, nearly inseparable. They sat next to one another, holding hands, and enjoying the music. The two of them couldn’t help themselves, they were hooked on one another. After some time had passed the two wanted to get away from everyone else and they went back to the campsite and enjoyed some quality alone time together...

…

After what many would describe as an eventful night, Harrison drove Kevin back to meet up with Cade. The two exchanged phone numbers, and as Kevin went in to hug Harrison good bye she went in for.... a high five. But no need to worry, Kevin didn't let that discourage him.

Nonetheless he was still nervous and hesitant to text Harrison right away about meeting up again. Thankfully, Cade convinced him to do so. After a quick discussion with her friends, Harrison was kind enough to hesitantly reply back and agree to meet. This was important. It would have been easy for one or both of them to ignore the feelings they had that night and go their separate ways. Harrison certainly had intended on doing so.

But they didn’t do that. They chose to act on it and test it again, to see if it was real. Yet another important decision was made. Date number two was ready.

That next day was much the same. The two of them continued learning about one another, studying one another, and most importantly, enjoying one another. It seemed every few seconds the two were laughing, smiling, or just staring at one another. They had only known each other for 24 hours, but they both felt as if they had known the other for years. A person they had known their whole lives internally but had only just now met for the first time physically. It was love at first sight, first touch, and first laugh. Soul mates that had finally found each other. There was so much passion. A strong connection. A surprisingly quick understanding of one another.

The two shared another amazing day until they had to part ways yet again. Not for long, however, as they saw each other the very next day, but only for a brief period.

Now, the real test began. With the festival being over, Harrison and Kevin went their separate ways.

Harrison returned home, and Kevin returned to his place at school. Kevin would text Harrison to continue the conversation and the process of getting to know each other. Again, after convincing from her friends, Harrison would reply and humor Kevin. There was just something that kept the two of them together, even when they were apart. They learned more about each other and grew closer and closer. Eventually, the two were able to see each other again and without skipping a beat they were right back to who they were at the music festival. The two were truly meant for each other.

After several coincidences, decisions, and improbabilities had occurred, a miracle happened. Two soul mates found each other and fell in love. They grew that love and never let it go away. It took several people to bring them together. One wrong step, turn, or decision could have led to this story never happening. The two of them have always been thankful for those right moves. They realize they got lucky. So damn lucky.

Postscript

Five years have passed and now the two are engaged. They are still madly in love, and they still reminisce about the magic of when they met. They still reference how everything had to go just right for them to meet that day. Just like much had to go right, and wrong, for them to get to the point they are at today. Even though they have many memories, laughs, and smiles behind them, they have a limitless amount ahead.

For now, August seventeenth, 2018, remains their favorite day. But soon, very soon, the fourth of October 2024 will replace it. Not entirely, but it will be a new leader as it will be the day the two of them get to commit to being IN love with each other forever. They get to bug one another forever. They get to make fun of each other forever. Lean on each other. Help each other. Experience life together. Grow together. Be together, forever. They will finally be married and ready to take on anything that life throws at them.

Wedding Party