It was June 2015. James had just relocated to New York City full-time from Miami, while Susan had recently arrived from Providence. In a city where neighbors often exchange little more than a fleeting glance in the elevator, these two newcomers defied the norm. During a ride to floors 22 and 28 in their residential building, James and Susan struck up a conversation. The connection felt easy, instant, and almost karmic.

A few days later, James reached out to Susan. He had stumbled upon a post she’d left on the building’s intranet, offering dog-walking services for the summer and including her phone number. What began as a chance elevator encounter quickly blossomed into a decade of love and friendship — and the start of their happily ever after.