We both went to McKean High School, but somehow, it wasn’t until I was a senior and Nick was a junior that our paths truly crossed.

I had been through a lot by the time I met him, and on one of the hardest days I had, Nick told me how beautiful I was. It may have seemed like a simple compliment to him, but to me, it meant so much more.

I had dated before, but I had never truly felt comfortable being myself with anyone. Then I met Nick. With him, I felt safe. I felt accepted. I never felt judged for who I was or for the things I had been through. Somehow, he made it easy to let my guard down and just be me.

Nick showed me that there was so much more to life than what I had known before. He showed me that love could feel safe, that being truly understood was possible, and that maybe finding your soulmate really was something that could happen.

From the very beginning, there was something different about us. Deep down, we both knew that we had found something incredibly special in each other. Eight and a half years later, we still feel just as lucky to have found our way to one another.

Since those two high schoolers first met, we’ve grown up together, changed together, and built a life together. We’ve shared countless memories, faced hard times, celebrated the best moments, and somehow, through it all, we’ve continued choosing each other.

Now, after 8½ years together, we can hardly believe how quickly the time has passed. We are forever grateful for the love we found in each other and for all the memories still waiting to be made. We cannot wait to get married and start our life together.

Time, please slow down. ❤️