Most of you know that one of the sweetest parts of our story is how long we’ve known each other. We grew up around the same family friends, had brothers the same age, and went to the same church in high school. But it wasn’t until Clemson that our friendship truly took off.

Bowman quickly became someone I could count on—so much so that I invited him to all my sorority events. He became friends with my friends, and we started spending more time together. I’d always had a little crush on him, but as we grew closer, that feeling deepened. We’d spend weekends and Sunday afternoons together, talking about life, faith, and the future.

Eventually, Bowman moved to Montana for work, and we had no idea a relationship was just around the corner. Six months later, we were talking every day—and when I finally visited, I came back with a boyfriend. We started a two-year long-distance relationship, with me in Atlanta and Bowman still out West. Long distance wasn’t always easy, but the past two and a half years have been the most meaningful and growth-filled chapter of our lives.