To set the scene for our story you must understand the dynamic in which we were placed. As freshmen or rooks at Norwich University we were placed in the same platoon and squad as each other. At Norwich, these are what they call rook siblings. This is how our relationship started, with us being labeled as a forced family. Forced is a strong word, and I use it to mean we had no choice in the matter but in no way to detract from how close of a bond you form with individuals labeled as your siblings at Norwich.

The first time Conor and I met, I was sitting in a doorway and he offered me beef jerky from the bag he was holding. I cannot say that from that first moment, I was swept off my feet. That took place many months down the road as we became close friends.

Being a rook at Norwich is a trial and you learn to lean on your rook siblings; even more so when contact with most other people is limited due to Covid lockdowns. In that time, Conor and I got to know each other better than most would in the initial months of a simple friendship. During that time I got quarantined in my room as a Covid precaution and would find boxes of dried cereal at my door that he brought by almost every day. From there, when the school was all but shut down, he and I, along with some other friends, would explore the winter wonderland that the school turns into during the colder months. Eventually, we all got sent home. Conor and I continued to Facetime, growing our friendship over a long distance.

As cliche as it may be, I don't think either of us had the intention of dating in mind when we became best friends. It was all so easy and natural. The beginning of our Sophomore year came around and, finally, it became more obvious that not dating simply would not do. While we did endure some jibes from our other rook siblings about it, (you see it was understood that to date a rook sibling was somewhat taboo at Norwich) there was no going back.

Now, coming up on four years later I thank God that he placed us together at Norwich: to endure the struggles together of life as rooks and for all the years since then to have the love of my life and best friend by my side. While being engaged and doing long distance is not an ideal situation, it does not hurt to remember that this is the situation where we became best friends in the first place. If there is one thing I know from our story, it is that Conor and I always make it work. From the traveling we have done, to deciding where to go for each holiday, and the months of no contact when we were at our respective military training, we figure it out together. The weekend we got engaged was a last-minute trip I planned to see him and one that I almost canceled because of the birth of my beautiful little niece. I learned later that only a day or two before I came Conor went home to get the ring. Nothing in life is perfect, but that day came pretty close.

Conor, I love you so much and eagerly await when life has us by each others sides again.