Victor & Karolina: Count Fireflies With You Forever

My name is Karolina and this is my love story. Victor and I met 2 years ago on a ‘wilderness retreat’ sponsored by our university. I had never been camping so I decided to go.

Victor loved camping, but he didn’t expect to meet anyone. Then he saw this very itchy, red-faced girl.

I had no idea about being in the forest and I was so very unprepared. I did have a tent but I didn’t have enough blankets or food and I had no idea about poison ivy. The only interesting thing was I had seen Victor and he was so very good looking but I didn’t have the nerve to talk to him. When I woke up very early in the morning, I was a swollen, itchy mess and my face had red splotches all over it.

What was even worse, the first person I saw in the morning was Victor.

Their relationship was sort of a natural progression, they always just knew. And in Karolina’s heart, she didn’t want to be anywhere without Vicor.

It was HORRIBLE! I was so embarrassed because I was a red faced, splotchy mess. But Victor walked over to me and asked if I would like to have breakfast with him. He said, “Poison Ivy, don’t worry, it will be ok---happens all the time.” I felt comfortable with him immediately. That night we counted fireflies and he told me all about them. I was so captivated by that. It was amazing.

In a short time, I started to feel better. He was so easy to talk to that we didn’t stop talking for the next three days. He is also very funny and I love that. After the camping trip, our relationship was sort of a natural progression. We always just knew. At one point I considered moving to another state, to study another program, but in my heart, I knew I didn’t want to be anywhere without him. ☺️

Victor proposed to Karolina on their second anniversary of being together, it was the most romantic proposal ever. 🤵🏻‍♂️💞👰🏻‍♀️

My mom became ill and we had to cancel the camping trip we had planned. I was so worried about my mother and I felt as if I disappointed Victor. He said that all he wanted was to be by my side, which was so lovely, but it was still a really terrible time. Victor had stayed at the hospital by my side the whole time.

On the fourth day, my mom was doing better, and Victor left early to do some things and I stayed at the hospital until late. When I got home, I went into the apartment and the lights were out, which was strange because I knew Victor was there.

He met me at the door and it took me a moment to focus, but I saw that he had set up the tent in the living room. He was playing nature sounds in the background and there were FIREFLIES EVERYWHERE. He had gone outside to a nearby field and caught all these fireflies in a jar, and released them just before I got home.

It was magical! We sat in the tent and pretended to be at a campsite. Then he brought out a Darry Ring box and said, “I want to be by your side to comfort you and care for you in hard times, and in good times. I want to count fireflies with you forever.”

Victor proposed to me with a yellow gold pear shaped engagement ring. It is such a beautiful and dazzling diamond ring. I couldn't stop the tears the moment I saw it, especially when I heard him say that "I could only buy this ring once in my life and I wanted to use this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity on you!"

(😭😭😭 move to tears)

It’s hard not to cry when I tell the story. That’s how much we love each other. We are so blessed.