Just like every love story, it starts with a beginning...

We met on a blind date at Fusion’s karaoke night. I originally came just as the wingman (Dealio), but ended up laying all my cards on the table for this beautiful lady. The night lasted only a few hours, but by the time we left, I’m pretty sure she knew just about everything about me. I didn’t get her number that night — just hoped she'd call.

Just like the song says in "Turbulence":

"It was love at first sight when I saw you the first time, and I knew from that moment. Goosebumps came all over me when I looked into your eyes. You were so happy and free, I had to walk over,and say I need your name and number, and where you reside. I need you by my side."

It was something about him I can’t quite remember the exact date—but it was sometime in January 2022. Funny, how some memories blur while others cling tight like the winter air that day. We had met just a few weeks earlier, in November 2021. I didn’t think much of it then. I even told myself, He’s not my type.

And yet… there was something about him.

I texted him maybe two weeks after that first meeting. Nothing big—just small talk. Casual. Me, keeping it cool, not letting on that I was curious. That I was intrigued. I always said it out loud to my friends and even to myself: He’s just not my type.

(Tess)

As days turned to months, we stayed in touch. What started as casual check-ins grew into long, meaningful conversations—about life, about our past, about our dreams. It wasn’t just words exchanged; it was energy, a connection that felt familiar even though we were still getting to know each other.

It quickly became clear—this wasn’t just a fling like I thought. It wasn’t a phase or a moment of curiosity. This was the beginning of something lasting, something deep.

There was a bond forming between us, one we didn’t even realize had been there all along. It grew quietly, steadily, like a seed planted in the right soil. The elements came together—trust, vulnerability, laughter, understanding.

(Dealio)

I had never met a woman like her. So beautiful. So strong. So independent. So damn driven.

She was everything I had ever wanted—my dream in the flesh. A queen in every sense of the word. From the way she carried herself to the way she spoke life into every conversation, she lit up parts of me I didn’t know needed light.

I wasn’t just falling for her—I was recognizing her. Like my soul had been waiting for her all along.

They say what’s meant for you will always find its way, and others say you have to be brave enough to step into the unknown.

The truth is, both are right.

Sometimes, life asks you to risk comfort for something greater — to trust, even when everything feels uncertain.

We come from different worlds, different beliefs, and yet somehow, against all odds, it worked.

Because sometimes, when two souls are meant to find each other, the differences don’t matter — the connection does.

We took a chance, and it changed everything.

I’ve wanted to ask Tess to marry me for a while now. I just needed the right moment—and the courage. That moment finally came during a trip to Atlanta. It was perfect: just us, no distractions, nothing pulling her attention away.

It was around 10 in the morning, we were in bed, just lying there together. I had her all to myself. I knew Tess—she’s a firecracker. Says whatever comes to mind. So I had to be sure the timing was exactly right.

I started by playing the song that always makes me think of her—Matrimony by Wale. Then I laid down beside her, heart racing, ring in hand. I looked at her and asked, “Will you marry me?”

Man, the tears started flowing—definitely mine. My heart was pounding as I waited for her answer.

And then... she said yes.

Just like that, I became a fiancé. She’s going to be my wife.

Well—legally, anyway. She’s always been mine.