Ryan was the loud one, the funny one, the kind of guy who made friends effortlessly while I was the quiet and shy one. He had this way of making a room warmer just by walking into it. I remember the first time we spoke. It was a Digital Media class. He was sitting at the computer next to me, so I had no choice but to ask him for help with Microsoft Excel (To this day, I am not good with computers), and he eagerly answered my questions.

He annoyed me at first. Not in a bad way, but in that way someone does when they’re always there, trying to get a reaction out of you, trying to brighten your day. He made me laugh when I didn’t want to, challenged me when I was being too serious, and somehow, before I even knew what was happening, he became my best friend. What did I learn in that class? I can’t say, I was focused on getting to know the person I would spend forever with—even though I didn’t realize it at the time.

Our first date was at the movie theater. I remember it was a movie that I was really excited to see, but instead of watching, we spent the entire time talking and laughing. I’m sure everyone else in that theater was not too fond of us, but I’m also pretty sure we didn’t care. Soon we became inseparable, spending every second we could together, and my life was forever changed.

For the past five years, Ryan has been my #1 supporter, has challenged me to accomplish things I did not know were possible, and has loved me more than I thought was possible for one person to love another. He has taught me what it means to love someone with every ounce one has to give. He’s my person—and always will be.

Now, we’re planning a wedding, and sometimes it still feels surreal. Not because I doubt it, but because love like this—the kind that grows with you, that feels like home—always seemed like something out of a movie. And yet, here we are, about to start the rest of our lives together.

And I wouldn’t want it to be with anyone else.

T&R