I moved to Texas in November '21, hoping to make some new changes in my life after graduating college and post-Covid. I started out with a job and an apartment, but had to leave both of those quickly due to some circumstances, making me unemployed for a while. In April '22, Saturday the 16th to be exact, I started a new job, and that's when I first saw Matthew. His eyes stood out to me first, and he had a good smile so he seemed like he'd be a good coworker to connect with.

About the next 4 months, I went through some very difficult experiences, but by the time my birthday rolled around in August, Matthew and some other coworkers all around the same age, took me out for a birthday dinner. It was so sweet, and my first memory I have seeing him outside of work. He accidentally paid for everyone's meal, which he would do anyway even if technology worked correctly. After that time, our little group started hanging out at breaks and outside of work more. It was my first experience connecting with so many people my own age, and it helped lessen my missing of home in Missouri.

I wasn't trying to do this, but Matthew and I became really close, like siblings with how we would talk to each other at work and started constantly hanging around. He was very easy to talk to, and with some things going on in my personal life, he was a sound mind who could advise me.

Starting the beginning of January '23, I went through some very dark times, and Matthew was still very present and supportive. Due to the subject matter and his behavior, I thought he was expressing feelings for me at a time, and he shut it down very quickly. I took that as the sign that we would not be together romantically, which really allowed me to be my true self and not filter so much to how I thought he wanted me to be. The year continues, and we get closer through going to bars, eating out together (Chili's is our favorite), watching movies and shows, talking nonstop, all the while not feeling any pressure to date him which helped me heal in other ways too. Around August, I decided I was moving back to Missouri at the end of the year, and Matthew was one of the first people I told. As the year went on, more of our coworkers asked if he and I were dating. Because I knew where we both stood, and even at times talking to him about other girls he had feelings for, my genuine reaction to that question was with a laugh and a no. We definitely had a couple moments throughout the year where things could have changed, but neither of us wanted to lose the friendship, so on my end I stayed quiet and brushed them off.

December rolls around, and Matthew takes me to a concert to see one of my all-time favorite bands on the 15th. We were at the top of the arena for these seats, and unbeknownst to me, my fear of heights came flooding back and I had a panic attack. I called my parents, Matthew was with me through it all. He tried to tell me we could leave, but I was too stubborn and too excited that we went back to our seats. My eyes were maybe opened 40% of the concert, and at some point I begged him to hold my hand. Right after, I remember saying something like "this is not how I thought our first hand-holding experience would be," because I try to be funny when I'm feeling discomfort. We went to Chili's afterwards, he asked me if we were best friends, and I just laughed and it was very sweet. The next couple of days, he began to act a bit differently, and I decided I was going to talk to him before I left. Thursday the 21st, I went out to dinner with him and some of my coworkers to say goodbye to them. Matthew and I exchanged Christmas gifts to each other, and that night I brought up that I thought he was acting differently and I thought it was because he might have feelings for me. He didn't respond at all, so I decided that was a big flop and just said it was in my head and he left. I went somewhere else that night, he came back to see me but I told him I had left. He then sends me a text message telling me he actually does have feelings for me. That was a big moment, not just because of what he said, but in a way it freed me from what I was struggling with the entire year. We talk the next day, and me leaving has not changed. I remember asking him if he would move to Missouri, he said if he had a good job then yes. He then proceeds to ask what would it take for me to move back to Texas. My fully unfiltered answer to this man was this: "If you get down on one knee." Saturday the 23rd, I'm moving back to Missouri. I go to my work to say goodbye to everyone one last time, but Matthew and I end up kissing. I laughed because I was awkward, but it was so sweet and I was so glad he did and I left.

The very next day, we start talking and we haven't stopped since. I told him first I was falling in love with him, he was going to start a new job and wanted to come see me beforehand. He worked a shift, then drove over 10 hours to come see me, he met me parents January 23, 2024, and that night asked me to be his girlfriend. We've been on so many vacations, done some concerts, went to a Comic-Con just so I could see some Hobbits, celebrated more birthdays and a graduation, met many family members, and have grown so much in the time we've been together. We celebrated our 1-year anniversary in the state I was born in, Oregon. On January 22nd, the day before our anniversary, we travel to one of our many national parks we're looking to see, Crater Lake. It's quiet and snowy and gorgeous. I had already been crying due to some previous trauma with car accidents in bad weather, but I also had known that throughout this whole trip, I was hoping he would propose. I told myself to stop crying and to keep it together. We get to a spot and it's stunning, I try to move on but he stops me. He tells me he has something else to show me, peeps a ring box from his hoodie, and I just break down. I jump for joy out of excitement, I'm crying, and I said yes to the most amazing man God has blessed me with in this lifetime.

Our next chapter is in the works, a day when we get to say to a watching world that I'm for and with Matthew, no matter what. I'm so in love with him, and I'm excited for long-distance to finally end.

M&M

Mr. & Mrs. Wynne