Ours is a Mexican love story.

After seven invitations, Michelle finally agreed to go out with me, and I took her to eat coconuts. I was nervously waiting for her, and when I saw her arrive in her red Jeep, I fell in love at first sight. After eating our coconut with Tajín and lime, we drank the coconut water and noticed that our personalities clicked in many ways—our tastes, the way we eat, and our values. We had so much in common.

As soon as the first date ended, I was already pestering her for a second one. We kept getting to know each other more and more, and I liked her more every time.

During my Lyme disease treatment, I didn’t have much to offer other than time lying down, going through treatments, watching movies, or just talking. And it was during that time that we connected even more. She began a relationship with me during the most difficult and lowest moments of my life—but also the ones filled with the most growth.

As I started to get better, we were able to go out and have fun outside the house, and the connection kept growing. Then came the day I asked her to be my girlfriend. By then, I already knew she was the one I wanted to marry. She told me she wasn’t ready for a relationship, and I understood. A few months later, the roles reversed, and she was the one to ask me—telling me she was ready for a relationship, and of course, I said yes.

We grew together, got to know each other, and loved each other over the following years until the time came when I was ready to propose. I knew she would be a wonderful wife, an amazing mom, and a woman I could truly trust. So I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me. Michelle started to cry—I was afraid she might say she wasn’t ready again—but they were tears of joy, and she said yes.

We celebrated and started planning our future, leading up to today—our wedding day—surrounded by our families, friends, and loved ones, all of whom we care about deeply. We are so happy and can’t wait to see what the future holds for us together.