It all began in August 2008. I had just left Lorain City Schools and honestly thought I would never meet anyone else. All my old friends swore up and down that I was transferring to a “lame” school called Clearview High School, a place they claimed had nothing but snow bunnies and not one cool person.

Well… survey says that was a lie.

On my very first day as a freshman, I laid eyes on a precious jewel. For the first time, I saw the woman who would become my more precious than rubies gift, Tamecia. Some might think it is impossible to see someone once and claim them as your wife, but that is my story and I am sticking to it. The moment I saw her, I was infatuated. I claimed the prize before I even knew God would grant me the gift.

One day in science class with Mr. Wacoviak, I decided to pass Tamecia a note to spark a little more interest between us. In that note I claimed I worked at Wendy’s, which was absolutely not true. Unfortunately, the note never made it to her. Our friend Tylir Davis saw me toss it and shouted across the classroom, “Ohhh, they passing notes!” Little did she know she was part of God’s plan the whole time.

Not long after that, Tamecia and I went on our first unofficial date to Regal Cobblestone in Sheffield, Ohio to see the movie Dance Flick. As we were getting out of the car, my mom yelled out the window, “Jalil, have fun with your girlfriend!” I instantly turned around embarrassed because although I knew she was mine in my heart, I had not officially secured the title yet. We looked at each other awkwardly and walked into the theater.

We dated from September to October 2008. One week before Halloween, while walking home, I jokingly told her that someone said we did not look good together and maybe we should break up. I was kidding. She was not. She agreed that maybe we should break up. In that moment, I learned that playing around can cost you everything.

I walked home heartbroken, angry, sick to my stomach. I went straight past my family and into my room and cried. It felt like someone had punched me in the gut. Life moved on, but all I could think about was how to get my girl back.

January 4, 2009, my cousin and I went to the new Kohl’s that had just opened. I saw a beautiful necklace I wanted to give Tamecia. I did not have the money, so I asked my cousin to take it for me. To my surprise, she did. I knew I had the right gift.

On Monday, January 5, 2009, I rode my bike from Canton Avenue to Clifton through snow and ice. I was determined. I walked up the stairs to her house and she answered the door in a blue and black plaid jacket, looking beautiful as ever. I asked her to be my girlfriend again, and she said yes. My heart was full. I placed the necklace around her neck, we held hands, and walked to school together. From that day forward, January 5, 2009, we have been together.

We graduated high school and attended different colleges, but distance only made our love grow stronger. We talked every day, FaceTimed, and stayed connected.

In 2014, she moved back to Ohio and we prepared to move into our first apartment together. I knew I needed to make it official. On Christmas Eve at her family’s party, I planned to propose. I was nervous. Super nervous. Someone even gave me a shot to calm my nerves and my chest burned like fire.

I saw her, asked her to sit down, got down on one knee, and said, “Tamecia, I love you. Will you marry me?” She said yes. And just like that, the next chapter began.

We originally planned for June 2016, but my father sat me down and reminded me that how we were living was not right. We were youth leaders, living together, and not married. I had a decision to make. Either move out or move the wedding up. I respect that instruction now more than ever.

Two weeks later, we chose Valentine’s Day 2015. On February 14, in the middle of a snowstorm, nothing was going to stop us. We walked into New Mt Calvary Missionary Baptist Church and committed our lives to one another before God and our family.

That day, we went from boyfriend and girlfriend to husband and wife.

And the rest… is still being written. Our story continues!