Our story starts in November 2022, when after a determined effort on the dating app Hinge, Freedom convinced Marissa to meet for a first date.

Freedom walked an hour to Bar Cino, while Marissa strolled down the street. Over fried cauliflower and a few glasses of wine, the conversation flowed.

Soon after, Marissa convinced Freedom to drive her to Connecticut to pick up a painting she bought online.Four hours round trip felt like a lot for a third date, but neither looked back.

Nine months later, Marissa moved into Freedom’s cozy Somerville apartment. They spent a year building a life together—cooking, hosting, and traveling to Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Florida, Chicago, Greece, and England.

In 2024, they moved to Watertown, got their sweet pup Pogie, and Freedom proposed during a fishing trip with friends. No fish were caught, but they both found a keeper.