A Love Note Across Time 

A Love Note Across Time

 “One day, I’m going to marry you.” were the words written on the simple piece of paper Jovahn placed in Khandissa's hand. 

These were words dripping with the promise of life together forever after high school was over.

Words she held in her heart and on a note, she never let go of even after life pulled them in different directions.

Once graduation was over, Jovahn went off to college, fell in love, and started a family. 

Khandissa chased her own dreams building a life with someone else.

 Both thought they’d found happiness, yet their relationships crumbled over time, leaving behind bittersweet memories.

Years passed. Neither of them had spoken in decades, though the memory of that note lingered in both of their hearts, like a secret treasure. 

On an ordinary day, they bumped into each other and their lives seemed to pick up from where it had been left all those years before. 

Months turned into a year, and their rekindled friendship blossomed into something deeper, and they knew they couldn't live without each other.

As he had promised all those years before, he wanted her to be his wife. Exchanging vows on the glistening sand of the Florida Coastline.

As the wedding day approached, I was entrusted with creating something extraordinary to tell their love story.

 It was my first job—a photo collage to celebrate their journey. 

The bride had a clear vision: her wedding colors, her favorite flowers, and most importantly, the note at the center.

But there was a challenge: I'd never created a collage before. 

Determined to capture the essence of their love, I dug through all the pictures she'd sent me, but they were not the right images. 

I contacted her and asked to come sit in her Livingroom with my computer in hand and my baby daughter 

to look at some of her printed images especially from high school and as young children to give a sense of where they began.

• Baby pictures of both of them 

• Pictures from them at their prom 

• Newer pictures of her leaning in for a kiss as he made a surprise visit to her bridal shower.

The centerpiece, of course, was the note. I scanned it carefully, preserving every crease and ink smudge. 

Surrounding it were floral accents in the bride’s chosen colors—delicate violet and gray—tying the collage together beautifully.

On the wedding day, the collage was unveiled, taking a place of honor at the reception. 

Guests gathered around, marveling at the visual journey of Khandissa & Jovahn's love. 

The bride and groom stood together, tears glistening in their eyes as they saw their past and present collide

 in such a meaningful way.

Though it was my first job, the collage became more than just a collection of photos. 

It was a testament to love that endures, to a promise kept across the years, and to the power of a simple note.