Our story begins in 2019.

I took a trip after I graduated high school and came to Winston-Salem, to visit a mutual friend of mine and Zac’s. On that trip, at a flag football game, I met Zachary. In fact, we played on the same team and I scored a touchdown ;)

Although we didn’t instantly connect or become close friends, the following year, 2020, we ended up joining the same zoom meeting, that was organized by the same friend. (Shoutout to Isaac Sin)

After rekindling and catching up, we exchanged contact information, and began our friendship.

Though states away and in the midst of a pandemic, we spent time together over Zoom by playing games with our friends. One night, we ended up talking on zoom with a friend, and the three of us just laughed until our ribs hurt until about 3am. After that, Zachary and I decided we wanted to have more nights like that together.

We had completely opposite personalities, and we didn’t have a romantic interest in one another, but we became loyal friends. We cultivated a deep love and trust for each other as individuals, and we got to know the secret person of one another’s hearts.

In the fall of 2021, we took a trip together to Tennessee with some friends, and that’s when things started to change. I began to see Zac as not just a best friend or the person I trusted most, but as a potential mate.

Thankfully, a few months later, in December 2021, Zachary also started seeing me the same way.

And in January 2022, Zachary asked if I would consider dating him. So naturally, I said no. Mainly, out of fear that his feelings were only temporary.

And while he respected my decision, he was in it for the long game. His feelings were not going anywhere.

His loyalty to me and our strong love for each other as friends naturally flourished into the relationship we have now.

In March 2022, Zachary asked me to be his girlfriend. And since then, our friendship has only gotten stronger.

The next few months consisted of long distance dating, and lots of flights to see each other.

In September 2022, I was finally able to move only five minutes away from my best friend. We have been attached at the hip since then.

Thanks to Jehovah, we are experiencing personally the truth of 1 Corinthians 13:8. True love never fails.

We couldn’t be more excited about spending forever together. We wanted more nights of laughing until our ribs hurt, so we decided to get married.

And so it begins…The Cheeks.

Reynolda Gardens-Wake Forest

Old Salem Museums & Gardens

Roar