The year is 2013.
our story
So there I was, left arm in a sling, fresh off a shoulder surgery (don't breakdance y'all, its not worth it), strolling into what seemed like the least romantic place on Earth: Emory Orthopedics & Spine Center. I walked into the Physical Therapy office and settled into a new patient room. As I’m settling in, boom—enter Morgan. Blonde, petite, and easy on the eyes. She fired off a couple of questions, scribbled something that looked important, and walked out. I thought to myself, “She’s certainly sparked my curiosity.”
Unbeknownst to me at the time, she went and discreetly reviewed my medical chart to confirm my marital status: SINGLE.
After my initial appointment, I scheduled Tuesday/Thursday appointments for the next few months. I returned the following week and was delighted to see that the same girl from the first visit was attending to my sessions. We exchanged names, traded light banter, but I kept my cool. A few sessions later I mustered up the courage for a modern-love move: "Hey, add me on Facebook, I’ve got this Breakdancing Trailer on YouTube you've gotta see." Smooth, right?
That opened the door. After a few weeks of sliding into Facebook DMs, I played it casual: "How about we upgrade to texting?" Another classic move. We swapped numbers and made plans to hang out on St. Patty's Day. Despite the fun, she bolted off to Florida for a cruise right after. My thought? "Well, that ship might've sailed, literally."
But guess who texted when she got back? We picked up right where we left off.
After a whirlwind of events ranging from pool parties, Sunday fundays, an unforgettable Krewella concert, nights out in Atlanta, to that legendary trip to Athens, fate had other plans and we found ourselves walking separate paths.
The year is 2018.
So there I was, mindlessly scrolling on what seemed like the least romantic place on Earth: Instagram. I had just taken a melatonin, and my eyes were getting heavy. Just before I clicked the lock button on my iPhone, a familiar face popped up on my screen: @asamarchi. I had to take this moment to message him. But it's been so long... What should I say... what should I say? Something not too aggressive but shows interest. I landed on the perfect emoji.
"👌🏻"
I closed my phone thinking I wouldn't get a response.
Little did I know he was on the other end, practically high-fiving his friend over my digital nudge.
From that point on, the pace picked up quickly. Messages flew back and forth. The chemistry was palpable, even with miles between us. Turns out Alex had relocated to Austin, but distance wasn't about to slow us down. It didn't take long for us to realize that this was ramping up into something real. I booked a flight to Austin to see if the spark was just as strong in person. Our first meeting after all those years? It was everything we'd hoped for. (Shoutout to Sam for third-wheeling on that first date candle-lit dinner at Justine’s).
The back-and-forth continued, both in messages and plane tickets. Sometimes it was Alex landing in ATL, other times it was me touching down in ATX. But the elephant in the room was growing bigger by the week. Instead of accruing Delta Skymiles, we thought it might be nice to watch Netflix in the same room. It was clear we had to figure out a way to bridge the distance.
The plan was set. I was moving to Austin. But it wasn’t exactly a no-brainer. The decision had me nervous and questioning my life choices. But hey, I'm not one to shy away from a challenge. I took the plunge, with a mix of guts and jitters, and landed in ATX. Soon, Alex and I were city explorers, and even Yogi (my sweet Golden Retriever) won over Alex's "not-a-dog-person" heart. Before long, we bought a house and said goodbye to renting.
Fast forward a bit, and during a vacation to the Grand Caymans with one of Alex's soon-to-be groomsmen, he popped the question. Alex really outdid himself—meticulously planning every detail and keeping the surprise perfectly under wraps. Y’all know I LOVE planning, which made it even more surprising. And let’s not forget, it was incredibly romantic. If you bump into him, ask him about the proposal. He never tires of retelling the tale.
But as they say, the heart wants what it wants...
So, you’ve reached the end of our tale—or rather, the beginning. Welcome to the next chapter, one that you’re a part of, simply by being on this website! We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
