It was quarantine and the world was turned upside down. Erika was working as a waitress at the same place she’d worked at for thirteen years. She reported to work after a day of teaching e-learning and didn’t expect her world to change. In walked a man she had known for years with someone she had not met before. Of course she could not see his face, as it was a requirement for everyone to be masked to enter any establishment at the time. Instead of a mask, he wore a bandanna and as soon as he spoke she thought he was the funniest person she’d ever met. His name was Steve and he had just finished a day working construction. She didn’t think much of it at first, but the more Steve came in with Joe after work, the more she got to know him and got excited when he would walk in and brighten her day with his unique sense of humor and beautiful smile. On the day when the conversation steered towards favorite Disney songs, Erika knew they were meant to be when he busted out his rendition of “A Whole New World” and she joined in on the duet. It took awhile for Steve to ask Erika out, but after he did it didn’t take long for them to become a couple and they have been together ever since.

On a spring break trip to visit Erika’s best friend in Los Angeles, Steve got down on one knee and popped the question. Erika had never been so surprised. He wanted to do it in a place that was so near to her heart and it meant the world to her.