Our story began about 15 years ago. I’ve lived in Bismarck my whole life and at ten years old Mariah moved to town and started elementary school with me. Mariah had an electric personality and had no issues making friends, myself included. It just so happened that Mariah lived three streets over from me and right across the street from my childhood best friend. We would spend all day together over summer vacation exploring our small town and becoming very close.

Fast forward to our sophomore year in high school, as the years passed Mariah and I had drifted apart, finding our own cliques and separate hobbies. But one day as I was leaving gym class, I noticed Mariah was out waiting in the hall for her next class to start. She stopped me and we started to talk, and then we kept on talking. We ended up missing our next class catching up with one another and from that point on, I was infatuated with her. Every chance I had, I would look for her in the halls just hoping to be able to spend my time with her.

As the months went on, we grew to become inseparable. We started spending time together outside of school. She was a hard worker and spent many long nights at the local taco john’s working for minimum wage, and I would join her. I didn’t work there but I would stay all night helping ring up customers and cleaning the store while she worked just so I could spend more time with her. After this went on for a while we officially started dating.

Now, 10 years later, we have both changed immensely. We’ve gained and lost friends, brought a dog into our lives, started our careers, and most recently bought a house together. But, even with all the changes in our life, one thing has remained the same, our love for one another. I am so excited to start a new chapter in our lives and I can’t wait to share this special moment with each and everyone of you.