Our love story wasn’t picture perfect. I met Mikey while working as a server in Texas; he was on a military work trip. On his way back from California to Tennessee, he made a detour to see me but drank too much because he was nervous and lost his keys. I wasn’t sure I wanted to see him again, but my mom convinced me to help. He brought flowers and was embarrassed and sorry. We found his keys, had sushi, and the rest is history—proof the universe wanted us together.

One of our favorite memories is taking in a pregnant stray at the first house we shared. We’re huge cat people but already had three cats, so we were reluctant at first. We fed her and she started sleeping on our porch. When we found out she was pregnant, we brought her in and made her comfy. She had one baby, and Mikey did an amazing job caring for them. The mama is now a part of our family, and the kitten lives with Mikey’s mom.

Maddie will be moving to California this fall for graduate school while Mikey stays in Texas. Going back to long distance isn’t ideal, but we’d use the money to cover flights to visit each other and to help with moving costs when Maddie graduates and we can live together again. We’d also donate $5,000 to several nonprofit animal organizations to give back to the animals who’ve brought so much love into our lives.