We met at a friend's wedding in Atlantic City, and quickly became close friends. We started talking all the time. Fred was the person I wanted to talk to whenever anything was going on. He was there for me through so much, whether lending a hand, an ear, or shoulder to cry on. When we first met, we were each dating other people. The guy I was seeing would tease me and say that Fred had a crush on me. I thought he was being ridiculous - Fred had a girlfriend, and we had a huge age difference! There was no way we would ever be more than friends! Still, I found myself thinking about Fred all the time. When something bad happened, I wanted to call him. When I had good news, he was the first person I wanted to share it with. I could not pretend that I felt the same connection with that boyfriend as I felt with Fred. That guy and I broke up, and I went on dates with other people, but on every date, I found myself missing Fred. No one else compared. Fred had spoiled me - he was easy to talk to about anything and everything, he was incredibly smart, he just *gets me* and no conversation on dates with other guys measured up! Other guys made me laugh, but no one shared my dry, dark sense of humor like Fred did. Our friendship naturally blossomed and deepened as time went on, and there was no denying that we were in love! We both had some tough things happen, but we managed to lean on each other, and take care of each other. As cliche as it may sound, Fred made me a better version of myself, and he made my life so much better. In December of 2023, Fred came down with sepsis. I stayed with him in the Emergency Room, where was in and out of consciousness. I asked the nurse, "how bad is this?" and he was very honest with me - this was bad. Fred could die. Being the overachiever he is, Fred had managed to contract a treatment-resistant type of sepsis! He was admitted to the hospital, and stayed there for over a week. I visited him every day, and would cry in my car on the way home. I could not bear the thought of losing him. For the sake of facilitating easier communication with the care team, we had told them I was Fred's wife. During one visit, a nurse called me "Mrs. Cerequas" and I liked the sound of that! I had resisted the idea of marriage for a long time, but as we went through this crisis, I realized how much I wanted to be "officially" together. It was not only that I wanted to be with him - I could not imagine being without him! I loved him, and wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. Fred is my best friend, my other half, my safe place, the Chandler to my Monica, and the love of my life. He is a wonderful daddy to my fur babies, and is amazingly tolerant and caring towards all of my foster pets (and only rolls his eyes a little whenever I tell him "I couldn't say no! I just had to bring this dog home!!") ! I cannot wait to celebrate our relationship, and make this "officially official" with our loved ones!

Our meeting was simultaneously so unlikely and so consequential that it seems like it must have been the result of divine intervention. At the time I thought I was happy. Four years previously, following years of intense strife and sincere attempts to reconcile, my then wife and I decided to separate. Although I knew it was the right thing, it was extremely painful and there were many painful lessons that followed. Upon meeting Kate, I felt an immediate connection and we effortlessly fell into a natural conversation that lasted throughout the reception. At the end of the evening I invited Kate to join my then-partner and me for dinner at our apartment a few weeks later and she accepted. That dinner confirmed what we all knew, that we were all natural friends and had a great time together. After that, Kate came down regularly and the three of us would enjoy adventures around Eastern Pennsylvania. A few months later I was getting ready to take my youngest child to see my father in North Carolina for a week. The idea of not being in touch with Kate for a week was intolerable, so I asked if she’d mind if I texted her while I was away. She agreed. During that week we spent hours, after my daughter was asleep, having real-time text conversations. I was already well on my way, but it was during this week that I fell deeply and irrevocably in love with Kate. I began making the five-hour round trip to visit Kate in Brooklyn regularly. It was difficult, but the times I spent with Kate were more than worth it. Kate and I wound up moving to Philadelphia within a week of each other. I purchased a house just inside the Philadelphia limits and moved from an apartment in the suburbs. Kate moved from her apartment in Brooklyn to an apartment in Philadelphia about 6 miles away from my new home. The relationship I was in at the time came to an end shortly after the move. I knew it was the right choice, but it was incredibly difficult and painful, as growing often is. Since then, my own growth has continued, and my relationship with Kate has simultaneously become deeper and more enriching. Kate is my partner in every sense of the word. She’s my best friend, my confidant and my most trusted advisor. She has made me happier than I ever thought possible. What I’m most grateful for is that she’s made me a better partner, parent and human being. She has encouraged me to continue therapy and perhaps most importantly she consistently calls me on my “colloquial word for excrement”. There’s absolutely nothing as effective as real time feedback when you’re engaging in self-sabotage. (Kate’s note: dating a therapist has pros and cons!) In summary, Kate is amazing. I am incredibly lucky to have her by my side and am overcome with joy to marry her.