Our story began in middle school back in 2012. We were just kids, trying to figure out life, but from the start, our friendship soon grew into something deeper.

It all started in 8th-grade English class at Davis Jr. High. A couple of months into the school year, Noah decided to pass me a note. My curiosity got the best of me, so I opened it—his handwriting, shaky but confident, asked, “Will you be my girlfriend? Yes or yes?” I couldn’t help but smile at the cute boldness of it. I decided to have a little fun, circling “Or” instead of either “Yes,” and slid the note back.

When Noah saw it, I could practically see the panic on his face, his cheeks turning red. But I gave him a playful nod and whispered, “Yes.” That small moment, filled with innocence, became the start of everything for us.

As we moved through high school, our relationship deepened. We became inseparable—cheering each other on in everything we did, exploring metro Detroit with one another, spending weekends with each other’s families, and helping each other navigate the craziness of teenage life. We laughed so much, leaned on each other, and shared countless dreams for the future.

For Noah, love started as something simple. “How does a teenage boy describe love? At first, I had no clue what it meant. All I knew was I liked spending time with the cute, loud brunette who wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. Everything with her felt easy when we were together. In those moments, I didn’t need to figure out love—I just knew I wanted to be with her.”

Our summers became one of the highlights of our relationship, especially our trips Up North. Whether we were hiking, swimming, enjoying a bonfire, or lying under the stars dreaming about our future, those trips were filled with moments that reminded us why we loved each other so much and what our love could be.

Then came college, our first big challenge. We ended up at different schools—Maleena at Grand Valley and Noah at Michigan State—and for the first time, we had to figure out how to make it work with distance between us. We learned that love isn’t just about how you feel—it’s about the effort you put in. It’s about growing as individuals while making sure you never lose what you’ve built together. We found ways to stay close, even when miles separated us.

After I graduated from my Master’s program at the end of 2023, I moved from Grand Rapids to Ann Arbor to finish my internships while Noah finished his Master’s and military training at U of M. Once I moved, we weren’t just middle school sweethearts anymore—we were life partners. Life threw its fair share of challenges our way—finishing school, starting careers, moving apart, making tough decisions—but every hurdle only made us stronger.

In December 2023, our decade of love began a new chapter. Noah surprised me with a trip to see Christmas in New York City, something I had always dreamed of. On December 16th, 2023, we spent the day walking through Central Park and taking in the holiday atmosphere of the city.

Noah had mentioned we had reservations that night for Hamilton and told me to be ready by 5 p.m. for dinner. Of course, being me, I was still putting on my shoes at 5:13 p.m. when we were supposed to leave (only I would be late for my own proposal). When we finally left the hotel, we made our way a couple of blocks down, up an elevator, and down what felt like an endless hallway until we opened the door to a private balcony. I was in pure shock and disbelief. Noah had to gently push me through the door, took my hands, then got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was the most magical moment of our lives. Words can hardly describe the happiness we felt that night.

After all these years, we like to say we didn’t fall in love; we grew in love. Falling is quick, like a rush that sweeps you up and leaves you breathless. But we didn’t stumble into it like that. We built it, moment by moment, year by year. We chose to grow together, and in that growth, we found something worth falling for.

Now, we’re about to take the next big step in our lives. In 2025, we’ll stand in front of everyone we love and promise to keep choosing each other for the rest of our lives.

What started as a simple, nervous question has turned into so much more—a story of love, patience, growth, and partnership. It’s our story, one we’re excited to keep writing together.