October 15th, 2023 -

Write her letters, he did. He handed her the first one right before she left campus. Joseph always made his letters fancy. They included calligraphy, nice paper, and a shiny wax seal closing the envelope (Hence your invitation). There was something extra special about that first letter, but something Louisa would not know for a little while.

Joseph and Louisa continued to write all summer long. This was really their only source of communication to get to know each other. They had 2 facetime calls, and some brief texting over the weekends, but the true depths of their time together over that summer came through the hours they poured into reading and writing each other. They each eagerly checked the mail each day to hear from the other and always smiled real big when they saw the other's name on an envelope.

Eventually, they got back to campus for the start of sophomore year and Joseph still continued to write her sweet notes, sent in the mail through the course of August and September.

They went on many more dates, got to know each other in person and learned just how much they enjoyed being together. Their intentions were clear this whole time; they were both interested, they were going on dates, but they were not officially dating.

In late September, Joseph told Louisa, "I need you to clear October 15th. I have a surprise date I am planning just for you, but I need you to have the whole day free!"

It was not unusual for Joseph to plan surprise dates for Louisa. In fact, it was quite normal, but she still picked up on something different about this date. Trying not to get her hopes up in case she was wrong, she just said yes and tried not to think it might be the day he asked her to be his girlfriend. Little did she know how high her hopes could have been!

The Saturday before the 15th, Louisa had not seen Joseph all day. She set out her outfit she was going to wear and got everything else ready for this big day. October 15th came, they went to church, and as soon as they got back, went back to each of their dorms to change into more comfortable outfits.

As Louisa was leaving her dorm to meet back up with him, her phone rang. She received a text from Joseph. It was a riddle asking her to go somewhere else. He was at this first spot and proceeded to hand her another envelope. They then proceeded on a scavenger hunt around all of campus and downtown Cedarville to all of their special places. They even landed on their favorite bench on campus and Joseph gave her a letter of all the things he loved about her (though take note, he did not yet tell her he loved her).

Finally, she made it to the last clue. It led them to Beans-n-Cream, where they had their very first date. As soon as they walked through the door, Louisa walked to get in line. But he ushered her away from the line to the very same table they had sat at during their first date. It had a reserved sign on it, of which Joseph had called ahead to do.

They sat down and one of the workers brought them pre-ordered drinks right to the table (Joseph had also done this. He called the manager a week earlier to set the whole thing up).

They sat across from each other. Louisa was already so impressed, and she just looked at him, smiling so wide to think that a man would think of such sweet things to do for her!

He smiled back and slid one last envelope across the table.

It was the usual, brown envelope, shiny wax seal. She opened it and there was this beautiful calligraphy "F" and the rest of the word printed, "Finally". That was it. It was the only thing written on the paper. She looked up at him confused.

Remember how that very first letter had something extra special about it? Keep that in mind.

He could read her confusion well. She has never had an easy time hiding her emotions (haha). "Do you know what every letter I sent you since the very first letter contained at the beginning? Every letter started with a big, bold, calligraphy letter. If you set all of the calligraphy letters together, they spell something out."

At this point, Louisa's jaw had already dropped, practically to the table.

Knowing she might not have realized, he pulled out pictures of every letter he had printed out. All together they spelled out, "Louisa, will you be my GF?"

Since the very first date, the very first week of knowing each other, Joseph had concocted this master romantic plan to ask Louisa to be his! He knew from the beginning it as something he would want to do.

She sat there in awe, completely stunned. Was she in a movie? Then realized he was waiting for an answer (haha).

"Absolutely. Yes, absolutely!!!"

They were both just so happy! But it still didn't end there! Joseph knew what he had needed to do to earn her respect and her heart. He added, "You know how I was gone all day yesterday and I wouldn't tell you what I was doing? Well, I actually drove all of the way to Indiana to meet your dad for lunch and ask him if I could date you."

Her jaw opened back up.

He had driven 2 hours one way to meet with her dad whom he had only once before met, to ask to date her. This struck her heart even more deeply.

Joseph and Louisa went by new names to each other now, "boyfriend and girlfriend." (Cheesy, I know. But we love the cheese).