Our love story began like many others, at daycare. During that time, Ben eagerly anticipated naptime while Stacy infamously screamed through the crib bars, terrorizing other children. It was clear even then that we were a perfect match.

In 2017, our paths crossed once more at the Jefferson County Correctional Facility. Ben generously volunteered to train Stacy in exchange for extra pay. Although Ben's intentions were questionable, our friendship began to grow, especially when Stacy would call in sick, leading to overtime opportunities for Ben, that he did not want. Our time together was brief because Stacy chose to leave NY in search of happiness, unknowingly leaving behind the love of her life.

In 2020, we reconnected after Stacy realized she had made a serious mistake and moved back home. During this time, Ben received his promotion to Sergeant, and we got together for drinks to celebrate his achievements and catch up on lost time. Our first "not date" quickly turned into a fun adventure filled with munching on biscuits, leaving a pile of crumbs behind, tearing into a box of Krispy Kreme donuts like a rabid raccoon, peeling shrimp, and feeding them to Stacy, all while doing "cute shit" together. Little did Stacy know, she was gradually falling into Ben's master plan to make her fall in love with him through endless amounts of wine and food.

After months of courting Stacy, Ben chose the perfect moment to say, "I love you," during the French Festival fireworks while Stacy was preoccupied with a full order of bone-in chicken wings. This moment perfectly captured our relationship. We gradually fell deeply in love with each other during our adventurous dates, which included hiking Watkins Glen during a thunderstorm, late-night swims in the river, and romantic drives to the lighthouse.

At the lighthouse July 6, 2024, around sunset, despite Stacy's best efforts to ruin the surprise, Ben proposed to Stacy after three unforgettable years together. Ben had dedicated months to creating the perfect symbol of our love. The ring is a stunning pear-cut diamond set in a halo of sparkling diamonds on a twisted band. It was a moment celebrating our journey together and the love we share.