Our story began on a cold day in January.

When I arrived at Adnan's door, he answered wearing his college sweatshirt and sandals. Little did he know, he was opening the door to the rest of his life. Truthfully, I think we both were.

The day started out with the usual small talk and getting-to-know-you questions, but it quickly turned into much more. Somewhere along the way, I found myself explaining how New York City laundromats worked to two completely clueless 20-year-old boys. (Yes, Adnan, and yes, Jaiden, I'm talking about you.)

What was supposed to be a simple first meeting somehow turned into more than twelve hours of talking, laughing, wandering around, and learning everything we could about each other. By the end of the day, neither of us wanted it to be over.

From that day on, we were pretty much inseparable.

Our relationship wasn't exactly conventional. In the beginning, we spent months apart, juggling distance, busy schedules, and whatever life decided to throw at us next. Somehow, though, every challenge only brought us closer together.

Within six months, we were living together. Some people might say we moved fast, but it never felt that way to us. Our relationship unfolded naturally, and honestly, New York City's rental market is absolutely horrendous, so moving in together just made sense.

Throughout the years, our relationship has blossomed into something I never knew love could be. I've always said we don't have a quiet love, we have the kind that spills over, that fills every room, that sets another heart aflame. It isn't delicate or effortless; it's loud with laughter, unwavering in loyalty, and deep enough to make the ordinary feel extraordinary.

We are polar opposites in almost every way, yet somehow we've never fit more perfectly. Where one of us is strong, the other is gentle. Where one of us hesitates, the other gives courage. Our differences have never divided us. They've taught us how beautifully two completely different souls can choose each other, every single day.

Ours is a love that embraces the wonderfully messy parts of being human. I love deeply and fiercely, and Adnan has never asked me to love any less. Instead, he has always given me the space to be unapologetically myself. In return, I hope I've given him the same quiet permission, to grow, to dream, to laugh, to stumble, and to simply be.

We don't try to change each other. We learn each other. We celebrate the little quirks, laugh at the chaos, and choose patience over perfection. We let one another shine in our own ways, never dimming the other's light, but standing beside it, grateful to witness it. I think that's the greatest kind of love there is.

One of the very best things to happen during our relationship was introducing Adnan to Sage, our very spoiled Cavapoo. These days, our lives revolve around her, countless UPS runs, and somehow finding room for the ever-growing mountain of shoes that seems to multiply overnight. If you know Adnan, you'll know his love for the UPS My Choice app is almost legendary. Some days, I'm convinced it rivals his love for me. On the really dedicated days, it might even rival his love for Sage.

Over the years, we've filled our lives with moments that have shaped us. We've met each other's families, wandered through each other's hometowns, celebrated Christmas and Eid side by side, and found so much joy in sharing the traditions we grew up with while creating new ones that are entirely our own. Every milestone, big or small, has become another thread in the life we're weaving together.

My favorite memory, though, has to be our first trip to Disney World. If you know me, you know I'm a proud Disney adult. Getting to step into that world, embrace my inner child, and watch the person I love experience the magic alongside me is a memory I'll treasure forever. Somewhere between the fireworks, the laughter, and the rides, it became one of those days you wish you could bottle up and revisit whenever you need a little magic.

I'm also a hopeless bookworm, and because of that, and what Adnan lovingly calls my childlike wonder, one of our favorite traditions is giving each other annotated books for special occasions. More often than not, those books are by Dr. Seuss. Tucked between the pages are little notes, memories, doodles, inside jokes, and reminders of all the ordinary moments that somehow became extraordinary simply because we shared them. Long after the books are closed, those little pieces of us remain, waiting to be rediscovered, just like the memories we've collected along the way.

In May 2026, Adnan took our little tradition to a whole new level.

On a beautiful picnic, he handed me a copy of Oh, the Places You'll Go! As I turned each page, I realized it wasn't just a book. It was our story. Every page was filled with memories, promises, and little reminders of the life we'd built together and the one we still dream of. By the time I reached the final page, there was only one question left to ask.

Of course, I said yes.

Looking back, it's hard to believe how much life we've lived in just a few years. We've grown together, laughed until we cried, cried until we laughed again, celebrated each other's traditions, built a home with Sage, and somehow even survived assembling IKEA furniture together.

Through every adventure, every challenge, and every ordinary day in between, we've continued choosing each other. Again and again.

We truly believe that the best chapters of our story are still waiting to be written, and we couldn't imagine beginning this next one without the people who have loved, supported, and shaped us along the way. We can't wait to turn the page with all of you by our side.

Oh, the places we'll go.