On July 17th, 2019, Michael presented Mariah with a bicycle lock and said "Let's put a lock on this and make it official." They planned to put the lock on a relationship bridge they had seen together on one of their dates to the park. Mariah kept the lock safe till that day came.

Four years later, on July 2nd, 2023, on a day they had other plans fall through, Michael innocently proposed they find that bridge and put the lock where it was always meant to go. He told her to dress nice as they'd likely want pictures with the lock on the bridge. Mariah, oblivious to his plans, agreed.

He wore a blue sweater with a white collar, so Mariah chose a white dress to match, thinking the color coordination would look nice. They went to one park, a light rain keeping most people at home. After walking for a bit, they realized it was not the park that had the bridge, so they returned to the car and booked tickets to see a movie in an hour.

"Let's keep looking in the meantime", Mariah said, knowing nothing of Michael's intentions.

Sure enough, the next park had the bridge. They set up a self-timer camera, as they had a hundred times before, and found the perfect spot for their lock.

"We should get a video of you throwing the lock in the river," Michael said.

"That's a great idea!" Mariah replied.

She turned and threw the key, and when she turned back, he was down on one knee. They hugged. They laughed. They cried.

(She said yes!)

And then they went to the movies, reveling in their new engagement and the fact that no one knew but them for a few short hours.

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Comfort Inn & Suites Dimondale - Lansing