The Beginning: It was the longest date either of them had ever had, even though they both had excuses prepared just in case. They ate, drank, and laughed through 10 hours of conversation. Both went into the date with no expectations—two diametrically opposed people whose past experiences advised against starting a new relationship. Perhaps that was the key. Relaxed, they showed their true selves; they neither needed nor wanted to impress each other. Laughter, which is the shortest distance between two people, did the rest. Something different for both of them began at that very moment…

The "Yes": September 27th, Stephanie's birthday. A difficult time—one of those moments that defines a couple's strength and their commitment to each other—ended up rushing what seemed inevitable. He had been pretending for a long time that he didn't want to propose, and she had come to think the moment would never arrive. But it did, just like other special moments between them: without any fuss, just their natural reality. He got down on one knee, and she said yes…