Connect How did your love story begin?

We met when India was 19, through the man she was with at the time, who was abusive. What we didn’t know then was that Dylan was surviving his own hurt too, a verbally abusive relationship where his child was used to control him. Life is crazy, because the pain we were both trying to survive is what led us to each other. We became friends first, spending every day laughing, gaming, and listening to music until we realized we already felt like home. Nearly 18 years later, we still do.

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

One of our favorite memories is standing together on the pyramid in Izamal, Mexico. Dylan grew up with very little and had never traveled outside the South, so experiencing another country and a place that felt almost unreal was magical for him. Watching the wow in his eyes, like a kid seeing the world open up, made India cry. It was more than a trip it felt like a new door opened in our lives together.

What would you do with $20,000?

We would use the $20,000 to fix one of our broken cars so India can keep working as a delivery driver. We’ve been borrowing Dylan’s auntie’s car for over two years because neither of us has a working vehicle. We’d also put as much as possible toward India’s grandmother’s home, where her disabled mother and uncle live. Hurricane Ida left the roof damaged, walls buckling, and mildew inside. We wish we could call on family, but we can’t. We’re alone in this, and this money would help keep us safe.