This story all starts back on a cold winter's day in December of 2021. Winter break brought us together, despite the odds of us meeting. I, Nichole, was up in Ohio for school while my family had newly moved to Georgia after spending a majority of their lives in Texas. Bored on break, Owen and I had met via a dating app. Owen, born and raised in Georgia, asked me to Facetime him after a week or so of chatting. From there, we talked and talked until we had to meet each other.

It was arranged. A week before I was to head back to Ohio, we met at a café in Alpharetta, GA. We had a beautiful time together and on that first date, Owen gained the courage to ask me if I would do long distance with him. I agreed.

After months of late calls and updates, we met for the second time during my spring break back home. During this trip, our relationship deepened and so did our love.

During my final stretch in Ohio, Owen said the words: "I love you." Not too long later, I transferred schools so I could be closer to him.

A year passed and on January 12, 2023 we celebrated one year of loving each other. We began to contemplate what we wanted our lives to look like together. We decided that we would rather face the hardships and challenges of entering into adult lives together.

On May 16, 2023, Owen took me to that same café that we had met at and asked me to be with him forever. I said yes. And that brings us here, marriage so that our love can be expressed fully and for eternity.