Samantha and Jay’s story is one of perseverance, dedication, and love. If there’s anything to be learned from their journey, it’s that love always wins—even if it takes a little (okay, a lot of) time to figure out.

It all started in August 2010 at Emory University’s orientation. To them, this meeting was just two wide-eyed freshmen trying to survive their first day. But little did they know, this was the beginning of something extraordinary.

As college chugged along, Samantha and Jay became inseparable. Samantha, the ever-nurturing soul, kept Jay well-fed with homemade meals, while Jay, the math wizard, made sure Samantha just understood enough math to pass calculus. However, in full transparency, he just did her homework.

Their friendship grew through shared experiences, inside jokes, and sharing each other's passions. This was mostly on Samantha’s part, as she now has in-depth knowledge on Jay’s favorite player, Lebron James. Meanwhile, Jay discovered that some people actually read for fun from Samantha’s favorite pastime.

Their bond was undeniable, and their friends couldn’t help but speculate: Was there something more here? But Samantha and Jay were, unfortunately, incredibly dense. And so, they remained friends.

When graduation rolled around, life took them in separate directions. Samantha went back to Kennesaw and Jay to Stone Mountain. It could have been the natural end of their story. But some things, no matter the distance, refuse to fade.

They kept in touch constantly through texts, calls, helping navigate medical school applications, job interviews, and, of course, planning outings to concerts and festivals.

From the outside looking in, their friendship had already evolved into something deeper. But considering how comically oblivious they had been for years, the idea of a future together still seemed unlikely. And so, they remained friends.

Fast forward twelve years.

Samantha and Jay were in their final year of medical school. Jay was doing a rotation in New York, and their friends planned a weekend trip to visit. The itinerary? Michelin-starred restaurants, late-night Chinatown adventures, and some truly horrendous karaoke. Somewhere between the dim sum and off-key ballads, Samantha realized she couldn’t imagine a future where Jay wasn’t a main character. Unbeknownst to her, Jay had been thinking the exact same thing.

On the drive from New York back to Atlanta, Jay made a spontaneous pit stop in Washington, D.C. After a scenic lunch near the White House, Jay finally said what had been on both of their minds for years. He officially asked Samantha to be his girlfriend.

Thankfully, Samantha said yes and it wasn’t only because how awkward a 14-hour car ride home would have been if she hadn’t.

Just like that, after more than a decade of friendship, countless adventures, and entirely too many conversations about LeBron James, Samantha and Jay’s story finally became what it was always meant to be—a love story.