We were juniors at Fairfield University. We agree that we met through mutual friends while living in the townhouses, but the accurate story is up for debate. Undoubtedly, Steph recalls admiring Michael and his kind, quiet demeanor (at this point, she had not watched a soccer match with him). She observed that he unflinchingly lended anyone a hand, would drop everything to support his friends, and he could cook (big perk!). Michael recalls being drawn to the cute girl with the beautiful smile who, though quiet at times, could always be caught singing along to whatever song was playing at the party. From the first moment he saw her, he knew there was something special about her. Throughout the rest of college, we continued to hang out in the same circles, but at a distance. Towards the end of senior year, Steph scored a coveted invite to one of Michael's family-style dinners with his roommates. After graduation, we parted ways as friends, each pursuing our own paths and careers in New England and New York City.

Fast forward to July 2021. Michael came up in conversation when Steph was grabbing dinner with her friend Alivia, who remembered “Kowalski” from a visit to Fairfield. Steph decided to shoot her shot and reached out to Michael that evening (though Michael would argue he did a good job staying top of mind over the years with the random message to check in or to share something that reminded him of Steph). We chatted nearly every day after that, often during Michael’s long walks home from the office. After hours of phone calls and a couple of trips to Maine, Steph hopped on a flight to watch Michael run the 2021 New York City Marathon. We officially began dating on November 7, 2021, after Michael crossed the finish line.

We continued dating long distance for the next year and a half, trading off weekends in Maine and New York. Steph, a lover of small-town life, grew accustomed to navigating New York City. Michael grew to appreciate the slower pace of Maine, along with its many craft breweries, eateries, and mini golf courses. Our families mean the world to us, and these trips provided many opportunities to spend time with our loved ones. Michael eagerly participated in the frequent Lewia family Scrabble match. Steph tried to work on her Polish but demonstrated more success with exploring traditional cuisine. We also scheduled multiple trips around races as we worked towards spots in the 2023 New York City Marathon. In July 2023, Steph made the move down to Michael’s neck of the woods and we began training for the November race. Over time, a few tears, and many miles, we even grew to enjoy running together.

On November 5, 2023, we ran the New York City Marathon together, with our families cheering along the route. It was a day of many full circle moments, including completing the same race that established our relationship two years earlier. After crossing the finish line (Steph 43 seconds faster than Michael) and returning to our apartment, Michael got down on one knee... he might have needed a little help getting back up.

We continue to spend plenty of time between Pound Ridge, NY and Kennebunk, ME with our loved ones. We are so lucky to be surrounded by supportive families and friends and cannot wait to celebrate our day with them all!