While living across the country, Neil in Queens and Melissa in California, a mutual friend, Nia thought the two of us would really hit it off. We started texting which quickly grew into long phone conversations sometimes lasting over four hours long. In September when our eyes met for the first time it felt like time stood still. We met in the middle of Times Square and that evening was magical as we talked and laughed with each other. We didn't know or realize what we were building together until we decided to spend New Year's Eve together.

Neil’s perspective: We had planned what Melissa thought was a normal visit to her hometown, Syracuse. In cahoots with her mom, I planned a romantic dinner with her immediate family to Phoebe's, a restaurant she frequented while in college. After a month of planning, the day finally came. Melissa thought this was a typical family dinner, but soon after she found out it was not. After we ate our meals and deciding on whether to order dessert the time came, I knelt beside her on one knee and asked Melissa to be my future wife. Melissa’s perspective: I thought we planned a typical family dinner to a long-time favorite restaurant. I can tell Neil was a little anxious waiting for my mom and brother to arrive at the restaurant. After we ate dinner, I was too excited that Creme Brulee was on the dessert menu then I noticed Neil got up and knelt down on one knee. I knew this was the moment and I couldn't hold my tears back. As he said those magical words, "Will you marry me?", I shook my head yes before the words came out of my mouth. I was then surprised with a beautiful bouquet of roses and a cake from my favorite Italian bakery to celebrate.