Cory and Tatyana’s story began in October 2021 in the most modern—and mildly suspicious—way possible: online. Before allowing herself to romanticize the moment, Tatyana required a FaceTime verification. After all, one must confirm the gentleman is real and not a highly committed catfish. Cory answered the call, passed the test, and from that moment forward, the conversation simply never stopped.

About a week later, they scheduled their first date. In a bold move that perfectly reflects her adventurous spirit, Tatyana suggested karaoke—her self-proclaimed “sink or swim” compatibility assessment. Her philosophy? You can learn everything you need to know about a person by whether they are willing to take a stage and risk public humiliation. Tatyana delivered a soulful rendition of Valerie by Amy Winehouse. Cory, demonstrating both confidence and impeccable comedic restraint, selected Tequila—a masterclass in efficiency, featuring one word sung four times. A strategic choice, truly.

After waiting nearly two hours for their turn at the microphone, they made a joint executive decision to retire from the karaoke industry. Instead, they ordered pizza and returned to Tatyana’s house to watch a movie. One movie became three—High School Musical 1, 2, and approximately half of 3. The pizza remained untouched. So did they. What did unfold was far more meaningful: eight uninterrupted hours of conversation about childhood memories, ambitions, fears, favorite things, and the kind of topics that quietly build foundations.

At 3 a.m., Cory finally headed home—but not before they shared their first kiss and made plans for the following week.

Over the next two months, their connection deepened into a true partnership. Tatyana proudly introduced Cory to her favorite corners of Orlando, while Cory proved himself steady, thoughtful, and consistently present. From that first FaceTime “identity confirmation” to every moment since, Cory has shown up with humor, patience, and heart—and together, they have continued choosing each other every single day.

And fortunately for all of us, this is only the beginning.