It all began in the fall of 2013, in a sleepy chemistry class at Basil High School in Northern Iraq. She sat just in front of him, unknowingly becoming the center of his attention. Out of pure boredom (or maybe fate), he started tugging at her long hair. What followed were playful arguments, teasing glances, and, slowly but surely, a different kind of chemistry started blooming in the classroom.

Most teenage love stories fade with time. Ours didn’t.

While the world around us changed in unimaginable ways—wars, displacement, distance, and the quiet grief of losing the men who raised us—we held onto each other. He was forced to move to Jordan, then to the US. She had to start a new life in France. For six long years, we loved each other across countries, time zones, and heartbreak. We didn’t see each other—not even once—for six whole years.

But love, when it’s real, finds a way.

We survived the unimaginable, and yet, our hearts never let go. Through it all, we grew—not just as individuals, but as soulmates quietly building something unbreakable.

Now, 12 years later, we’re finally here, ready to say forever.

We actually share very little in common. She dreams of traveling the world; his favorite activity is sleeping… preferably at home, doing absolutely nothing. She loves sushi, octopus, and trying every new cuisine she can find—he orders chicken and rice no matter where he goes. She’s a drama queen, emotional, and obsessed with stories. He’s a Gemini. That’s really all you need to know.

Our story isn’t the loud kind. It’s not defined by grand gestures or perfect timing. It’s defined by patience. By resilience. By two people who chose each other, again and again.

This is our love—a quiet miracle that only grows stronger with time. And we can’t wait to celebrate it with you!