What was supposed to be a simple first date in Chicago somehow turned into staying up talking until 6 a.m. After that, weekends quickly became something we both looked forward to, even when they meant long drives just to spend a little more time together.

From the beginning, it was easy. We could talk for hours and never run out of things to say. Somewhere between the late nights, long drives, and quiet weekends, it became pretty clear this was something different. Being apart didn’t feel right, and those drives stopped feeling long pretty quickly.

Since then, we’ve built a life together—moving from Chicago to California, and eventually to North Carolina—collecting memories along the way. Some of our favorites are the simple ones, like exploring Asheville with no plan other than asking strangers what we should do, or laughing our way through an entire dinner.

These days, life is simple in the best way quiet, happy, and usually spent at home, choosing a night in over anything else—and genuinely excited about it.

The proposal was a moment that could only belong to us. What started as a suspicious “run” (something he absolutely does not do) somehow turned into a walk down a trail filled with photos, a blanket waiting, and a question that felt like the easiest to answer. Even the ring tells our story, with a California poppy and a King Protea—two places that shaped us, and one future we get to share.

At the end of the day, it was never really about where we were going—it was just about being together. And that’s exactly what we’re still choosing, every day.