Once upon a time, in the bustling city of Chicago, two lives intertwined through an unexpected connection. This is the story of how Ben and Ellen's paths converged, leading them to a love story that would leave a lasting mark on both their hearts. Chapter 1: A Journey to the Big Apple Our story begins with Ben, who had just graduated from college, filled with dreams of becoming a software developer. Determined to make his aspirations come true, he moved to New York City to join Fullstack Academy. After graduating from Fullstack and a year of valuable industry experience, the school offered him the opportunity to lead their brand-new campus in Chicago. In April 2017, Ben packed his bags and headed to the Windy City to embrace his new role. Chapter 2: Returning Home Meanwhile, in Chicago, Ellen returned home after college in June of 2017. She had heard of coding bootcamps from a friend and began researching the best in Chicago. This led her to an information session at Fullstack, where she found herself listening to none other than Ben. Ben couldn't help but notice Ellen, and a spark ignited. Chapter 3: Ellen's Cohort Ellen enrolled in the September cohort at Fullstack Academy. As pleased as Ben was to see her, he was well aware that staff shouldn't date the students, thanks to a gentle reminder from his mom. As Ellen's cohort drew to a close, she accepted a teaching fellow position, extending their time together. Chapter 4: Ellen's Fellowship As staff members and teaching fellows, Ben and Ellen spent their Fridays socializing with the students. Ben would often reminisce about his "2 am nights" in NYC to encourage the group to continue on for one more adventure. Ellen eagerly extended her evenings to share more moments with Ben. Ellen confided her growing affection for Ben in their mutual friend Brett, who skillfully dropped hints about Ellen's interest. Slowly, the pieces of their love puzzle began to fit. Ben kept a secret tally on his whiteboard, counting down the days until Ellen was no longer a direct report. Ellen meanwhile was trying to find an excuse to continue seeing Ben after her fellowship. Chapter 5: Happily Ever After Then, on March 24th, 2018 at the Clark Street Ale House, just as Ellen was about to finish the fellowship, Ben made his interest clear. After so much time getting to know each other as friends, Ellen was thrilled he reciprocated her feelings. Today, as they stand on the brink of a beautiful journey together, they cherish the serendipitous moments that led them to this joyous occasion, their wedding day.