When we were strangers

I watched you from afar

When we were lovers

I loved you with all my heart

Tess and Matthew met in 2015 as first-year Biology students at Santa Clara University. In hindsight, their love was immediate: forged in a friendship that was fueled equally by a shared love of niche, sardonic humor and the literal need to have a study-buddy.

Thankfully, despite dozens more, often-frustrating study sessions (Matt admits to being a know-it-all), and perhaps a few false start dates at Santana Row, they left Santa Clara in 2019 officially dating and officially in love.

A long-distance romance was to await, Tess leaving for graduate school and Matt sticking around...

Despite less than a year prior of official dating, long distance was hard. If not the constant back-and-forth texting and the frequent flights to see each other, their daily video calls heralded the ultimate truth: the need to be near each other.

Tess returned to the Bay Area with her Master's just in time for Matt to start grad school himself, and thus they were "together again."

But now it's gettin' late

And the moon is climbin' high

I want to celebrate

See it shinin' in your eye

Through random date nights and road trips to Oregon, through wine at fancy dinners and beer at dive bars, through endless study nights and reality TV show binges, through pointless arguments and painful belly laughs, through new friendships and lost loved ones, and through so much more: Tess and Matt stick together.

Because I'm still in love with you

I want to see you dance again

Because I'm still in love with you

On this harvest moon