By the time we are married, we will be together for 5 years and 2 days. Kind of crazy! Our story is long, but we'll do our best to keep it simple and sweet.

It starts with our sophomore year and we were invited to participate in a silly little roleplaying game called Dungeons and Dragons. In our first encounter together, we met while Seth, Dungeon Master, was with Marisol to discuss a game plan for her entrance into "The Timekeepers". Enter Michael, who was just minding his business and getting dinner, Seth called to him to meet her. Marisol's heart would never be the same after that. The day we played, our characters flirted, and to keep it short, a door was left open, Marisol made the choice to walk in and close it behind her. This is figuratively and literally.

One night in particular helps piece together this metaphor. It's the night we both realized that we wanted to be with each other. Seth invited Marisol to a game night at Daniels Hall. Marisol was off work early, and ended up waiting for everyone alone. It seems that Seth "forgot" to mention that Michael was invited too, as he was the first to show up. Marisol, trying her best to play it cool, says, "Oh nice, you're here too!" We sat and talked about our day until the rest of the RA Daniels crew came with their games. Michael gained the courage to lean on Marisol while playing card games, teasing her by trying to take them from her hands. When rolling dice, he took her hand in his to place the dice there. Marisol forgets how she did it, but at one point, she made Michael laugh so hard, she thought her heart would stop beating. Marisol jokes how it was cold and only wished she had a boyfriend jacket, to which Michael throws his on top of her head. When game night was over, Michael invited Marisol and friends to watch Critical Role in his dorm, to which he traded with Marisol his jacket for his bomber hoodie. It was big, and cozy, and we sat on the floor watching this long ass podcast. Eventually everyone left, it was just the two of us... both zonked out on an oversized pillow, too nervous to snuggle close but just close enough to maybe say, "hey, I like you." When we woke up, it was nearly 3 a.m. Marisol mentioned how much fun she had and Michael said they needed to do it again. A lot.

Marisol tried to open the door to love, only for it to be slammed shut in her face over and over again. She realized she would throw her heart out to the wrong people, and she took a final chance to give her heart to someone who was kind, thoughtful, strong, handsome, and most of all, just in love with her as she was with him.

Michael had not often put himself out there, yet wanted the space where he could comfortably be himself. And to his surprise, Marisol offered him that space. Their shared interests laid the foundation of their loving relationship and led Michael to open up more and more. Eventually giving his heart to the most beautiful, courageous, and loving woman he has ever known.

We both took a step through that door they call love and closed it behind us.

With that, the story of our relationship began. RA Daniels Hall and apartment sleepovers, late night game nights, traveling across the country to three different states for Co-Op, Facetime calls and surprise visits (thanks, Covid), front-row Bearcat football games, graduating, moving in together, adult jobs, buying a home, adopting a dog, to then Michael dropping down on one knee to finish the game that started all of this. For him to then whisper four words, "Will you marry me?"

On 10.26.24. , join us as we seal our previous story and begin our new story called marriage, opening with a Critical Kiss.

Photos

Engagement Photos : Spring 2023

One Year To Go 10/26/23