Beth and I went to the same high school but didn’t really connect until after we were both in college. We’d hang out when we could, go to parties, and catch up whenever she was in town.

I ended up in the hospital with mono, & our mutual friend Peyton came to visit with a special message. She let me know Beth had a crush on me and all I thought was- “finally”. I took that as my green light to ask her out, and immediately out of the hospital we were inseparable. We spent the summer together before she had to head back to college and did long-distance for almost a year. We moved in together in 2019 & lived in Boone while Beth finished up her schooling. After graduation we moved back to Asheville to be closer to family and friends. Since being back we’ve built an amazing community and both pursued our careers. Throughout our relationship we’ve been through so many tough times—loss, hardship, and discrimination—but through it all, our love for each other has been our greatest strength, helping us rise above every challenge and grow stronger together.