Shawna Alzina

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Our relationship started the most unconventional way. He lived in Las Vegas, I lived in Wisconsin and we met when we were 14 years old in an AOL chat room. An instant connection that was felt through miles and miles apart, even without being together in person.

We talked non-stop for many months, enjoying learning everything about each other. That went on until his step-dad forbade us from talking because he didn't like the fact that he was speaking to a girl online. After that, we lost contact for years and I honestly never thought I would ever hear from him again. 

Fast forward seven years later, and I get a random Facebook friend request from a name that looked very familiar to me. I e-mailed him, asking if I knew him, that his name sounded familiar. He wrote back saying that is what he was trying to find out and asked if I ever lived in WI. I replied yes, I do! And that was a definitive answer. He said his situation at home eventually got so bad that he moved out of his home to live with his dad about two years after we stopped talking. He said as soon as he got out of there, he looked for me non-stop online, the only way he knew how. He e-mailed random people online that coincidentally had my same first and last name. He was determined to find me, and we did with no expectations.

I called him that night while he sat in his hallway in front of his barracks. He was now enlisted in the Navy and stationed in Oak Harbor, WA, while I was still in WI. We honestly didn't think we would have much in common, considering how young we were, and now life had happened, we were older and more mature. We couldn't be more wrong; we were completely the same! We had so many of the same likes and thoughts; even though they changed through the years, they changed together. We talked for months non-stop on the phone until, eventually, he flew out and visited me. That was it! After a little bit of nervousness on my end, one kiss took that away, and we were confirmed that everything we felt from thousands of miles apart was real.

He could only stay three days because that is the only amount of leave he was allowed. It was a quick trip and it was hard to see him go. Shortly after, I started visiting him in Washington, and then he flew to WI and we got married :]. Everyone commented on how they couldn't believe we were nervous! But we had no reason to, we knew we were each other's soul mate and there was no one else. We were so excited to be married that he even put the ring on my finger before the minister said to!

I flew and visited him for a few months after, until I moved here to be with him. The only hard thing about being together is when he leaves on deployments. We hate being apart and love being together. I would love to be entered in winning one of the "Two as One" necklaces because that is exactly what we are, two in one. We are not as good without the other and love each other more every day. I would also love to each be wearing one of the necklaces while he is on deployments. Our necklaces would be apart since we never feel complete until we are together again.

Shawna Alzina