Once upon a time (January 19, 2019 to be exact), in a college town not too far away, Austin and Taylor met for sushi and hibachi noodles. The pair were both in school- Taylor for a Master's in Human Development and Leadership, and Austin for an Associate's in Network Security and Administration. On a bitterly cold, snowy day in February, Austin and Taylor found themselves sitting and talking at a local coffee shop near Murray State for over two hours. That's when they knew this was becoming something magical.

As the weeks turned to months, the two created an enviable romance. Austin would come to the dorm Taylor supervised, and the staff would lovingly call them "Mom and Dad." They would engage in each other's interests and make dates out of the simplest things. A favorite they often look back upon is hammocking in the quad one chilly April day, while studying and stealing each other's blankets. Another highly talked about outdoor excursion was when they took off with some friends to canoe a river in Missouri.

Their first birthdays together (only a day apart, if you didn't know!), Austin and Taylor both took their first ever ride on a train. They found themselves in Chicago, taking pictures, trying pizza they had researched for months, and watching Hocus Pocus.

Months became a year, and the world started to change. Adventures became scarce as everything shut down. Taylor and Austin took more trips to a campground, and celebrated Taylor's graduation with a kayaking trip on the lake. For their birthdays, they traveled about the states of Missouri and Kansas, making each of their first stops in Kansas City, and trying out an awesome Irish pub in Jefferson City.

Not too long after, Austin and Taylor started their long distance phase when Taylor took a job in Myrtle Beach. It was tough, but their love endured. The first time they were in person following Taylor's big move was at the Charlotte airport, on their way to Disney World- Austin's first time!

Thankfully, long distance only lasted a year before Taylor and Austin landed in Bowling Green. They found the perfect apartment, adopted a dog, and have been loving this life together ever since.

On Taylor's 29th birthday, Austin proposed. It's been Happily Ever After ever since.