Bennett and I met through a mutual friend in September of my junior year at Parklane Academy. Our first meeting has its own little backstory— those who know it understand why it makes us smile. After our first meeting, I remember texting our friend “That guy was cute! He has a REALLY nice car.” The next time we saw each other was a few months later at the Halloween Trick or Treat night at Percy Quinn.

Throughout the rest of my junior year and that following summer, we began spending more time together, though always with a larger group of friends. We would go swimming, watch movies in Bennett’s home theater, have bonfires, and simply talk. Over time, we developed a very strong friendship.

When I began my senior year, I only attended classes for a few hours in the morning, which allowed me to start working evenings at Tortilla Soup. I wanted to save for college and, one day, for my future wedding— even though I had never had a serious boyfriend and did not expect to before leaving for college. With just a few hours between school and work, and a long drive back to my parents’ house, I often went to Bennett’s instead. Soon, I was spending every afternoon there.

For the first time since we met, we had hours together just the two of us. We would play video games, swim, and talk endlessly. Before long, I also began going over after work simply because I enjoyed Bennett’s company so much. We would watch That 70s Show, cuddle, and despite saying “I need to go,” I often fell asleep. I would wake up around 2 or 3 a.m. to drive home. Understandably, my parents were concerned, but I couldn’t help it— I just wanted to spend as much time as possible with Bennett.

In January of my senior year, after more than a year of friendship, we officially began dating. At first we were worried it might affect our friendship, but our feelings were undeniable. After I was accepted into Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, our relationship faced its greatest challenge. Being more than 1,100 miles apart for months at a time was excruciating after having spent nearly every day together. During November of my freshman year, the distance became overwhelming and we decided to break up. Yet I quickly realized that while the distance was difficult, being without Bennett was far worse. By February, we reunited.

When I returned home for spring break, everything changed. Covid struck, completely altering our lives and relationship. We moved in together with some friends in Oxford, adopted our dogs Digit and Kali, and begun building a little family of our own. When I eventually returned to Swarthmore after restrictions lifted, it only took one semester before Bennett moved to Pennsylvania to support me though the rest of my college years and student teaching.

Two years Later, we were living in Louisiana, and I had just begun my first year of teaching. We planned a trip to the Smoky Mountains during my spring break— coincidentally, just two days after our six-year anniversary. On our first morning there, we woke up extra early and hiked to Abrams Falls, the very first waterfall we had visited together as a couple. When we arrived, Bennett set up his camera for a “photo,” walked back to me, dropped to one knee, and proposed. Of course, I said “YES!”

Since that day, I have spent every moment looking forward to the day I get to say “I do.”