It all started in the fall of 2019 at Bethany College in Lindsborg, KS— where paths cross easily, and friendships form fast. Curtis and I were no exception. Thanks to our small campus and shared friend group, we ended up spending time together. But according to him, he noticed me long before we officially met.

A couple of years after we started dating, he confessed that the first time he saw me, I was with Sarah—his then-teammate from track & field and my best friend and basketball teammate. He didn’t say anything then, but soon after, he realized I worked at the school cafeteria, usually at the cash register, greeting people. And that’s when he really noticed me. He told me that he loved my smile—and from that moment on, I had his full attention.

Now, depending on which one of us you ask, the story of how we got together has two very different versions.

According to Curtis, I made the first move. (Cue dramatic pause.) Here’s his reasoning: one day, he took me to Salina, KS, to "hang out with friends." Except, once we got there… no friends. Mysteriously, they never got back to us. (Suspicious, right?) So, being the gentleman that he is, Curtis suggested we go to a movie. I agreed, unknowingly walking into his master plan. The movie? Downton Abbey. Mid-movie, he did the classic “stretch,” and before I knew it, his arm was around my shoulders. If you ask him, I leaned into him. If you ask me? That’s a bold rewrite of history. But here’s the funny part—neither of us acknowledged what had just happened. No awkward laughs, no comments—we just sat there, kept watching the movie like nothing happened, and then went home as if Curtis hadn't just made his move. On the drive back, we talked about the movie, and before I went to bed that night, I texted him to thank him for the evening and let him know I had a great time.

After that night, we started spending more time together with our friend group—playing games, watching movies, and showing off our very average sports skills. For context, Curtis was in the cross-country and track & field team, and I was part of the women’s basketball team at Bethany. I remember seeing him in the cafeteria all the time—wearing his 2-3 inch shorts (all of his shorts were shorter than mine), skateboard in hand, with his fun personality on full display. Looking back, I think I may have had a secret crush on him without even realizing it. He was different from anyone I had ever met—funny, knowledgeable, kind, and passionate about everything he did. But, of course, I’d never admit that out loud.

Then came one unforgettable Friday night in October. Our group decided to watch Happy Feet in the dorm lobby. Seemed like a normal night… until it wasn’t. Out of nowhere, Curtis reached over and held my hand. Just like that. No warning, no buildup—just straight to hand-holding. I was so shocked that I froze. Do I take my hand back? Do I say something? What is happening?! Our friends looked at us, wide-eyed, silently screaming, What the hell just happened?! But no one said a word. It was just an unspoken “Oh, they’re together now” moment.

Somehow, we made it through the movie (don’t ask me anything about it—I remember zero details). Afterwards, Curtis and I stayed up talking until 4 AM, getting to know each other in a way we never had before. I think for both of us, that was the moment we realized that this is something special. From that night on, we became inseparable—best friends, partners, and adventure buddies for life.

For most of our relationship, we were long distance, navigating different cities, time zones, and busy schedules. There were countless FaceTime calls and airport goodbyes—but through it all, we never stopped choosing each other. Every challenge only made us stronger, proving that no matter the distance, we were always home to one another.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

That night, Curtis reached for my hand without a word. 5 years later, he did it again—except this time, it came with a ring. 💍