Zachary and I first met in 2011 at SUNY Canton in our photography class. He was wearing an anime jacket with one of my favorite characters on it (kakashi). I was super shy but I walked up to him and told him how much I loved his jacket and then I joined him at his table. Turns out we had a lot in common - including the fact that we were both dating someone :P People kept telling me that they were convinced that Zachary had a thing for me, and I would dismiss it. One because I had a boyfriend already and two because how could anyone as great as Zachary possibly like me? (Yes, I was against myself a lot) But we remained best friends and after I went to SUNY Potsdam and he went back to Syracuse, he would come and visit me whenever work let him off. He would come to birthday parties and visit me when I inevitably got hurt.

What I didnt know or at least was blind to, was that Zachary had been in love with me since the first day we met. He just remained an incredible friend and never crossed any lines with me - granted I was never single long enough. After moving to Philly and then to VA after a bad break up - Zachary finally revealed to me that he had been in love with me all this time. Well at first I was hesitant and unsure about his feelings, but I started thinking back to all those times and all the things he'd say to me, and do for me..and it all started making sense. I didn't confess to him...until I went to a gay bar with my cousin and got far too drunk and then screamed into the phone at 2am that I loved him. I then told the uber driver how much I loved him.... and that was that.

Zachary came to visit me, and I went to visit him, and it was a back and forth thing for a while..and then we decided for me to move in with him in Clay NY. He came by train (which was awful for him being car sick) and helped me pack and move to his house - but first he had to get the approval of my Grandmother, to which she said to me; "that boy is a keeper, you hold on tight to him." With her approval, we went home.

One of my favorite stories to describe what kind of Man Zachary is...is to start on a sad note. I got a call that my Grandma had died... I was a mess, and home alone. Zach's best friend Kayla said I should tell Zach, but I didn't want to bother him at work - she told him and he raced home and held me in his arms and said, "when is the funeral? We will leave tomorrow if we have to!" - The funeral wasn't right away, but he made sure to take time off for it and we drove to VA for her funeral. I was beyond a mess, and Zachary had only met my grandma once... but he cried at her funeral. This is only one of many great things about Zachary.

2 years, 1 new cat addition later, we found out I was pregnant. Surprise! Zachary had to deal with the stresses that came with moody crazy me, which was nothing for him as he's been here for panic attacks, and 2 months of not walking. He dealt well, and 9 months later we were introduced to our son Finn ♡

And now we are off on yet another adventure.... Our wedding ♡