Story
Charish and Jonathan met each other over Discord in a writing group participating in the National Novel Writer's Month (NaNoWriMo) in November 2020. They both subsequently joined a smaller focus group to do writing sprints together throughout the month. The two of them often sprinted together, got to know each other, and bonded over their shared passion for writing. By the end of November, they had failed to complete the NaNoWriMo challenge, but had succeeded in becoming fast friends.
Across the next two months, the two of them grew in their friendship, realizing that they had a lot more in common than just writing. On December 5th, due to a brief misunderstanding and a leading question, Jon confessed his feelings for Charish in a single blunt paragraph. She, though thoroughly unprepared for such a confession, responded in kind. Jon was both surprised and delighted by this, and that was when he stopped looking back. In the following weeks, their feelings continued to grow until they planned their first virtual date. You see, Jon lived in Colorado and Charish, in Florida. So, they both took Texas Roadhouse to-go and watched a movie together over their video chat; it was December 31st, New Years Eve. Charish, being the easternmost, stayed up until 2:00 am to experience the new year with Jon.
By the second week in January, the two of them made the decision to meet in person, knowing that would be the last step in discovering that they were meant to be. And so, the date was set: February 11th. They were to meet in Dallas, a relative midway point. Through travel problems such as layovers, a bus accident and Jon arriving at the wrong airport, they finally met at DFW International Airport as Charish rushed into the baggage claim from her flight, which had just landed. Upon their first embrace, they felt at home. They felt like they had known each other all their lives in that moment. Needless to say, their meeting was a success, in spite of a literal blizzard in Texas. They had a magical time together, forgetting all the world for that weekend.
After an especially difficult parting, they would continue to grow in their relationship and plan for the future; a future both of them believed to be inevitable. One of these plans was a trip to Chattanooga, TN, where they had planned to get engaged. Jon would propose to Charish under the waterfall at Lula Lake, reciting a script he’d written just days after they’d made the decision. After a few hikes together and quality time spent with Charish’s family, they arrived at their destination. Of course, their luck had not improved; after two severe thunderstorms and a tornado, the waterfall was at 150% capacity, crushing the space where Jon had planned to take a knee. However, nothing would stop these two. They enjoyed the peaceful suspense during their hike to the spot, and Jon chose to kneel at the banks of the pool, the falling water drowning out all other sound and the mist surrounding them as they took that next step together. Charish even whipped out a script of her own in response, her long-winded yes.
And now they plan to be married on June 11th, amid immediate family and their best friends, in Florida where the two shall start their life together. Later, when the pandemic subsides, regular life returns somewhat, and they can afford it, they plan to have a larger ceremony to renew their vows; both want their families and themselves to experience that, but the distance was simply too great to wait.
(All photography on this site provided by the very diligent Treasured Journey Photography)