Suliel and I met 24 years ago in an AOL chat room back when dial‑up was still a thing.. Since we were both from the Bronx, we decided to meet up. I chickened out at first, and because of dial‑up, she didn’t get my email until hours later, but she still gave me another chance. On October 4, 2003, we saw School of Rock, grabbed Burger King, walked around Parkchester for hours, and I asked if I could kiss her. She said yes. That’s where our forever began.

Our favorite memories aren’t the big adventures but the moments where it’s just us. We love the simple moments, walking out of Walgreens holding hands under a beautiful sky while walking to the car, wrestling on the bed, cuddling up together watching our favorite show. The quiet moments together are home.

With $20,000, we’d finally breathe a little easier. We’d pay down debt and take our kids on a real vacation, somewhere new where we can just be together and make memories. And after three years of Suliel’s wedding ring being lost, I’d finally replace it with something beautiful — a symbol of us, of everything we’ve overcome, and of how deeply I choose her every day.