Once upon a time…
…there was a boy, a girl, and a high school cafeteria.
The Irondale Senior High School cafeteria was a sea of chatter and motion, but for him, the world had slowed to a gentle hum. He sat at the edge of the room with the rest of the football team, his usual quiet demeanor blending him into the group. The introverted football player, known more for his fierce determination on the field than for words off it, wasn’t looking for anything—or anyone. But then he saw her.
Across the bustling room, she stood out like sunlight piercing through a cloudy sky. The volleyball player with her effortless grace and vivacious energy. Her head tipped back in laughter, golden strands of hair catching the light as if nature itself conspired to illuminate her. Her laughter rang above the noise—a melody, bright and unrestrained. She seemed to radiate life, as if her presence alone could chase away shadows.
He watched her, mesmerized, his heart thudding with an unfamiliar rhythm. There was something about her—a spark that ignited something deep within him. He wanted to be near that brightness, to feel the warmth she exuded. Suddenly, the music playing softly through the cafeteria speakers became a symphony, every note wrapping around this moment, as if time itself had slowed just for him to take it all in.
And in that instant, as her eyes crinkled at the corners and her laughter softened into a smile, he knew. It wasn’t a fleeting thought, nor a whimsical notion—it was something deeper. A certainty that stirred in his chest and took root.
I’m going to marry that girl someday, he thought. And for the first time in a long while, his heart felt something beyond the game. It felt hope.
The Engagement
With my schedule packed full—balancing a pharmacy residency and a master’s program—I asked Kevin to plan something special for our 12th anniversary. Instead of just a date night, he had something much bigger in mind: a getaway to one of our favorite places, Grand Marais, MN. I thought he was a little crazy for wanting to venture so far north in the middle of December, but the idea of a peaceful weekend away was too tempting to resist.
On the first morning of our trip, Kevin took my hand and led me toward the lakefront through a light drizzle. I protested, convinced we were about to meet a watery end if we slipped on the rocks, but he just smiled and insisted this was exactly where we needed to be.
As I stood there, taking in the breathtaking beauty of Lake Superior’s rugged shoreline, shivering against the crisp northern wind, Kevin suddenly knelt before me, a small box in his hands.
In that moment, the world faded. He told me how beautiful I was, how deeply he loved me, how he wanted to spend forever by my side. My heart pounded louder than the waves crashing behind us, and before he could even finish, I blurted out a breathless, overjoyed “YES!”
The ring, a stunning blue sapphire, was something he had chosen all on his own. It was not only beautiful and unique, but it felt meant for me in ways beyond its sparkle: sapphires get their deep blue color from titanium included in their crystal structure. With the many titanium plates and screws I have in my face and spine, a blue sapphire was, in every way, a perfect fit.
There are many love stories out there, but ours is our favorite.
