Demetrius and I met in 2003 in the Lincoln Park High School cafeteria. He had blond highlights in his hair, and I wore low-rise jeans.

(D: “In THOSE jeaaaaannnsss!!!”)

This one afternoon, he recognized me while we waited for the 74 Fullerton bus. The bus had to take a detour that day, so we had a little extra time to sit and talk to each other about music and hobbies. I happily gave him my phone number, but I had to say no when he called and asked me out on a date because my strict parents had weird rules about dating at the time.

(D: Yeah, she said no for three weeks in a row. 🙄)

Demetrius and I had another chance to connect through AIM. Every night, we sat in our computer glows, listening to alternative music, and chatting about everything and anything. After countless nights on AIM and a few trips to the beach, we finally became boyfriend and girlfriend on July 7, 2003, promising each other we would take things one day at a time.

(D: She forgot to say that she KISSED me then said NO when I asked her out… A week later she called ME and asked me to try again… She asked ME out. It was a Monday 😂)

Our time at NIU brought us closer as we navigated that strange space between youth and adulthood together. We continued to push each other to be the best versions of ourselves. Our parents weren’t around to check our grades, so we checked each other’s grades! We were like Forrest Gump and Bubba leaning on each other while sleeping in the rain. Along the way, we made some amazing lifelong friends at Grant and in the Sammy basement. In December of 2007, Demetrius proposed in front of the big Christmas tree in downtown Chicago.

(D: I worked all semester at Best Buy to save my pennies for her ring. And then, I quit on Black Friday. Yall remember how crazy Best Buy was on Black Friday!”

When we returned to Chicago after NIU, life picked up the pace. I found out I was pregnant in our apartment on Ashland, and we decided to get married at city hall on January 5, 2011. Though we were legally husband and wife, we felt that we still needed that ceremony and celebration to make it complete. So, we promised each other that we will have our wedding once things slow down. Things didn’t slow down!

(D: Not one bit!)

Our daughter, Gabby, was born in July of 2011, and so our journey as parents began. In between sleepless nights, diaper blowouts, and tummy time, we traversed complex career paths. Through it all, we continued to make it a priority to love each other. We discovered the absolutely necessary role that communication, patience, and understanding play in a relationship as deep as ours.

(D: Okay stop, I’m crying, lol.)

In 2016, amidst some family tragedies, our son, DJ, brought new light into our lives. Our family became complete, and our love for each other continued to grow and grow. We cried together, struggled together, laughed together, and pretty much grew together.

(D: I’d like to take this moment to publicly thank Marlene for being the gift from God that she is. I lost my grandmother, who was everything to me, and my father, who was my guiding principle, in a 4-month period. I was laid off at that same time. And, I had my son on the way. Marlene fully absorbed it all alongside me, and helped me rebuild every single block of my person. This woman has seen me at my very worst, and at my best 💪🏽. Amen, Amen, Amen. And, Hallelujah.)

On April 21st, 2024, after twenty years of being in love, we are finally giving ourselves that celebration of unity that we have been waiting for. Demetrius and I are renewing our vows and solidifying our undying love and dedication to one another. We are beyond honored to share this day with the people we love who have helped build us into who we are today.

(D: We really cannot do this without all of you by our side... Thank you, everyone, so much.

Hey Mook, let’s get it! 😎)

#ForeverFreeman2024