It all started with a phone call.
Okey and I were introduced by a mutual friend while we were both deep in the whirlwind of medical training. I was in California applying for internal medicine residency, and Okey was finishing his final year of residency in Chicago. Our first conversation? Let’s just say I thought it was okay—but Okey swears it was a disaster! He didn’t think we’d ever speak again. But life had other plans.
Months later, we reconnected—and everything changed. We found ourselves talking for hours, laughing, opening up, and discovering just how much we had in common. Before we knew it, we were looking forward to every call, every text, every moment shared—despite the miles between us.
When I matched into residency in Florida, we decided to give this long-distance love a real chance. Our first in-person meeting, in October 2020, was nothing short of magical. We explored the city together, but more than that, we saw a future in each other. From that moment, we knew we wanted to be together.
Long distance wasn’t easy, but it made us stronger. Our days revolved around each other—endless phone calls, spontaneous trips, falling asleep mid-conversation, and learning every little detail about each other’s lives. Love found us in the quiet moments, in the laughter shared over the phone, and in the determination to be close—even when we were far apart.
Fast forward to a dreamy trip along California’s coast—from San Francisco to San Diego to Los Angeles. I had a feeling something big was coming. My heart skipped at every romantic dinner, every stunning sunset. I wondered: Is this it? Is this the moment he’ll ask?
In the end, it wasn’t the roses or the candles or the dramatic grand gesture—it was something far more meaningful. Back in our hotel room after a beautiful evening, Okey looked at me, full of emotion, and said he couldn’t imagine spending another day without me. And just like that, he asked me to be his wife.
It was perfect. It was us.