It all started back in high school, when Lisa and I first met. We were part of the same circle of friends, laughing our way through classes, school events, and late-night study sessions. There was always something about her—an infectious energy, a smile that could light up any room. But back then, we were just friends, both too focused on our own paths to realize what we had.

Years passed, and life took us in different directions. We lost touch after graduation, each caught up in the whirlwind of adulthood. But in 2021, something unexpected happened. We reconnected over a shared passion that neither of us had let go of—cycling.

It started with a casual message, just a suggestion to go for a ride together. I still remember the first time we met up again, the crisp air of that early spring morning, the sun just beginning to warm the earth. We rode for miles, talking and laughing like no time had passed at all. The world felt different with her by my side, every pedal stroke synchronized as if we had always been meant to ride together.

As the weeks went by, our rides became more frequent, our conversations deeper. We explored new trails and old memories, rediscovering each other in a way that felt both familiar and entirely new. It wasn’t long before I realized that the connection we had wasn’t just about cycling—it was about something much bigger.

One evening, as we watched the sunset from the shore after a long ride, I looked at Lisa and saw more than just a friend. I saw the person who had always been there, the one who made everything better just by being herself. And in that moment, I knew—I had fallen in love with her.

We confessed our feelings that night, both of us laughing at how obvious it had been all along. From that point on, everything changed. Our friendship evolved into a love that felt as natural as breathing, as if we had been waiting for this moment all our lives.

Now, as we prepare to start the next chapter of our lives together, we can’t help but think back to those high school days, to the rides that brought us back together. It’s funny how life works—how the paths we take, no matter how winding, always seem to lead us to where we’re meant to be.

And for us, that place has always been with each other.