Riley was afraid.

He'd never been one for leaving the comfort of his home, yet here he was in a different state at a university halfway across the world—thousands of miles from anyone he knew.

He'd never been on his own before either. But once his parents shipped him off without saying a proper goodbye... Riley knew it was time to step up.

He just didn't know how. He didn't know what to do or say. He wasn't sure how to live.

Then he walked into his first lecture, and Jacob said hello.

*

Years later, they'd fondly reminisce about the encounter on their wedding day.