How did your love story begin?

Our love story began during the pandemic when we were fresh out of high school. Leila had added me on snapchat and I’m the type that hardly ever accepts stranger’s friend requests. But it said we had a mutual friend and I was so stuck on who it might have been. Come to find out our mutual friend was one of my best friends from seventh grade! Leila and my friend knew each other when she moved schools 15 minutes away. It was insane finding out how connected we were before crossing paths!

What is your favorite memory you've shared as a couple?

My favorite memory that we shared as a couple was definitely our first date! We went downtown to a cute gift shop, The Sunflower Shack in downtown Leesburg, and then got burgers and ice cream, and drove around down and listening to music! I think it was so memorable for me because of how alive I felt and how safe I felt with him.

What would you do with $20,000?

What I would do with the $20,000 is I would put it forward to pay for Leila’s top surgery. Leila has been going through his transition for a year now and has been on testosterone, but going through with top surgery would ease his gender dysphoria. I’ve always tried my best to be there and support him throughout his transition and before as well. As much as my support helped, his gender dysphoria always weighed down on his potential to be happier in his body. The money would greatly help out.