Our Beautiful Journey
From College Friends to Forever
Where It All Began - The ASA Board
We started as college friends on the ASA board. You were VP, I was Treasurer. We worked so well together - raising funds, planning incredible events, spending countless hours side by side. But it was more than work, Marion. You were the ONLY person who cared if I had eaten each day. While everyone else saw me as just another board member, you SAW me as a human being who needed care. That simple question - "Tosin, have you eaten?" - became the most important part of my day. You showed me what genuine caring looks like.
Growing Together - President & VP
Then you became President and I was your VP. Watching you lead was mesmerizing. Your intelligence, your strength, your ability to make hard decisions with grace - I was in awe. We accomplished even greater things together because you brought out the best in me. Our friendship deepened with our friend group, though distance sometimes kept us apart. But I learned something important: true connections don't fade with distance - they grow stronger. And Marion, ours was already unbreakable.
Through It All - Russett, Baltimore, Laurel
Remember the times in Baltimore when you'd come to my house while I was jobless, sleeping on the floor? Marion, I had nothing to offer you. Nothing. No job, no money, no prospects. Just me at my lowest point. And yet you came. You didn't judge. You didn't lecture. You just... cared. You helped me get a job when I needed it most. You believed in me when I had stopped believing in myself. Then we moved to Laurel together, to Nigeria and back. Through every struggle, every transition, every uncertain moment - you were my constant. You made every place feel like home simply by being there.
October 15, 2023 - Everything Changed
After grad school, our friendship grew even closer. We talked more, laughed more, shared more of ourselves. Then on October 15, 2023, you told me you had feelings for me, that you liked me. Marion, in that moment, my entire world shifted into COLOR. Everything that had been black and white suddenly became vibrant and alive. The friend I'd known for years became the woman I couldn't imagine living without. That date isn't just a memory - it's the bookmark in my life story where "before" became "after." Where friendship became love. Where Marion became MY Marion-y.
Our Love Blossoming
I know it's been rocky at times. I haven't always been the partner you deserve. I've let my struggles cloud my judgment, I've taken your love for granted, I've failed to show you every single day how deeply I appreciate you. For those moments, Marion-y, I am truly sorry. You've stood by me through everything - and I mean EVERYTHING - yet I haven't always stood as strong for you. But I want to do better. I WILL do better. Because what we're building together - our businesses, our lives, our dreams of a future family - it's too precious, too beautiful, too important. You make life easier for everyone around you, babe. Let me spend the rest of my life making yours easier, more joyful, more loved.
This Moment - Valentine's 2026
And now, I want to make this Valentine's Day the beginning of something even more special. Not just a celebration, but a PROMISE. A promise to appreciate you every single day. A promise to see you, hear you, love you the way you've always loved me. A promise that the rocky times are behind us because I'm committed to being the partner you deserve. Marion-y, you've always been the one who cared. Now let me be the one who shows you, every single day, how much you mean to me. This is for you, babe. All of this. Forever.
