It all began in high school. She was Belle, the lead in our school's production of Beauty and the Beast, and I was the one behind the scenes as her sound engineer, making sure every note, every word, and every moment shined as bright as she did. Though our paths crossed often during rehearsals, life had other plans after graduation in 2015. We went to different colleges, and for six years, we drifted—no messages, no run-ins, not even a passing word. It was as if we had lived in completely separate worlds.

But fate wasn’t done with us yet.

On a warm, rainy night in June 2021, in the heart of Nashville, our story picked up right where it left off—this time, on the rooftop of Kid Rock’s Honky Tonk. Amidst the neon lights, live music, and summer rain, we saw each other again. It wasn’t just a coincidence. It felt like a moment meant to happen, a spark reigniting from a time long past.

From that night on, we spent more and more time together, making up for the years we had lost. Not long after, we went on a trip to Dale Hollow Lake with my brother and his friends. It was there, under a vast sky full of stars, cruising on the water during a moon-lit boat ride, that I turned to her and asked the question that would change everything: Will you be my girlfriend?

She said yes.

From that night forward, we’ve been inseparable. Every step, every adventure, every simple, quiet moment—it's all led us here, and it's only the beginning.