We always hear that life works in mysterious ways, and love finds you when you least expect it.

Our story began in Antigua & Barbuda, the place we planned to learn and prepare for our futures as doctors. Little did we know, this little island would give us so much more.

This is the story of how needing to purchase textbooks and Facebook brought two individuals, one from Jersey and one from Brooklyn, together. This is the story of how these two found love.

Although Karina was excited, starting medical school was stressful. However, she was determined to succeed and thus began preparing for the year ahead. As the list of books required was extensive and pricey, she began looking at feasible options. One being purchasing secondhand books...

As she was scrolling on Facebook, she noticed that a fellow student was selling his books. Not only was he selling the exact items she was in need of, but he was also on the other side of the student housing building.

Talk about convenience! As luck would have it, he was online at the exact time as she was, and he came across her profile. His name was Paul. Neither one of us expected a simple transaction would become the start of our life together.

"Mesmerized" is the word that best captures that moment. From her beauty, especially her smile and beautiful eyes, Paul was captivated. He couldn’t help himself and decided that he had to message her. Immediately, Karina responds (must have been Paul's beauty), and a plan was made to meet that evening for the transaction to take place.

That evening Paul arrives at Karina's place with a large purple suitcase on wheels! Once the deal is made, the two lovebirds (unbeknownst to them at this time) strike up a conversation. Karina mentions that the cost of the food in the country is quite expensive and more than she thought it would be (can’t we all relate at this very moment!). Paul, being the wise young man he is, sees this as an opportunity and offers to take her to a local supermarket on that very same evening, promising reasonable prices.

Call it a first date or not, but this was the very moment that our future together began.

We have shared so many beautiful moments and as we prepare for our big day, we can’t help but reminisce on our journey. From being students to residents and everything in between, our love for one another has deepened by the day and we are forever grateful that our paths crossed.

We simply cannot wait to start this new chapter of our lives, sharing it with those nearest and dearest to our hearts.

Cheers to love,

Karina & Paul

P.S. How random that the homes we had left behind were only an hour away from one another and yet we met on a small island? Talk about never knowing…