His POV:

I met Shannon deep in the rolling hills of an undisclosed country during a classified operation. I was stranded and separated from the rest of my unit, with little supplies left to get me home. Exhausted and half-delusional, I took a wrong turn just before making it to the outpost and ended up at the edge of a deep ravine. I stumbled on some loose debris and fell down the ravine, breaking several bones in the process.

I laid there, dehydrated, starved, and alone. I had lost all hope of making it back to my loved ones. And in that moment, my saving grace appeared.

Shannon had been training to become a professional cave spelunker and just happened to be in that region. She found me, picked me up with one hand, and climbed up the rope with her other.

She saved my life that day, and as she walked me back, we discovered a deeper connection than we ever thought possible.

I promised I would write her letters as I recovered, and as time passed, our love blossomed with each missive exchanged.

As my time in that undisclosed location drew to a close, I knew I needed her to stay in my life and asked her to marry me. And in the summer of 1976, she agreed to build a life with me and move to the States.

Her POV:

It was a cold and rainy evening. I had just finished a 20-hour shift at the restaurant and was headed home. I hated taking the subway home. It was crowded, smelly and just plain annoying, but it was better than walking home at midnight in the busy city streets. All I could think about was how I couldn't wait to go home, sit in my favorite window seat, and drink my favorite drink while watching the rain pour down my window. All alone... Again.

As I was making my way to the station, something, or should I say someone, caught my eye. A very attractive man. I only got only a glimpse of him, and in that one glimpse, our eyes locked, but before I could do or say anything, he was gone. In that briefest of moments, something about him had made my stomach do a little flip. After that, I couldn't stop thinking about him.

As I waited for my train to arrive, I felt a shove from behind. It was probably some impatient person trying to get somewhere faster, but the shove made me lose my balance, and I began hurtling toward the train tracks. As I was bracing for the impact, I was suddenly pulled away from the tracks and into someone's strong arms. We fell backward and were suddenly face-to-face. I blushed as our eyes locked. He looked right into my eyes, and I felt that stomach flip again. I also felt this deep connection. He asked if I was ok and offered to help me get home, which I accepted.

Once we got to my front door, I asked him who he was and thanked him for saving me. He refused to accept any thanks but told me his name and asked me mine. Then, he asked if he could see me again sometime. So, I gave him my number, and he promised we'd meet again soon. After that fateful day, we began dating within a week and soon became engaged 2 months later. It's crazy to think my simple, little life went from lonely and dull to becoming full of happiness and love.

Our actual meeting:

Shannon and Jon met in July of 2023 at the Smith Wedding. They were dear friends of Jacob and Kayla Smith, and were honored to be part of their wedding party. Shannon and Jon had never met despite having Kayla as a mutual friend, and this wedding was the first meeting.

Within the first few moments of introduction between the two, Jon knew he would be pining for Shannon over the course of the entire wedding. Shannon thought Jon was really cute, and was wondering if this was "that one single friend" that Kayla had been talking about. It wasn't until the reception that Shannon and Jon got to truly meet and connect. They talked for almost the entirety of the meal exclusively and found out they had instant best-friend chemistry.

At the conclusion of the event, Shannon and Jon exchanged numbers with much nervousness (mostly on his part). Several days later, Jon asked Shannon on a date in the first message he sent to her, and Shannon excitedly agreed (after 24 hours of leaving him on read).

As time went on, they agreed to formally be in a relationship, September 26th of 2023, despite that it would be a long distance relationship. After many green flags and fun adventures, Jon hit Shannon with the ultimate "Uno Reverse Card" and asked her to marry him, July 22nd of 2024.

Travel

Hampton Inn Forsyth

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Forsyth

Holiday Inn Express Forsyth, an IHG Hotel