Let’s both level up together, instead of leaving one person behindAlex: We live in Dahlonega, on the tippy top of a mountain. We’ve been together seven years, and I’ve really just learned how to love him, and the dark sides too. How to pull each other through and not give up on each other. That’s the hardest part—not giving up.

Lance: Before we met, we had pretty crazy lives. Alex was 23, and I was 26. We met and got out of that life.

Alex: We brought each other out of the darkness. Since we’ve been together, we’ve been non-stop leveling each other up. Okay, we’re lacking here. Let’s level up together, instead of leaving one person behind. We’ve just been leveling—go, go, go, go.

Lance: It feels like a rebirth. I don’t have all the answers, but now I can leave everything bad behind me. It’s more exciting being a good person to strangers and my family than trying to be a certain way to prove how tough I am.

Alex: I went through 10 years of darkness; I’m going on 11 years clean. Growing and continuously doing better each day. What is something that I would like to work on today?

Lance: I’m one year behind her.

Alex: We have this saying: “Until we meet again.” It’s like a Grateful Dead thing, but we came up with it together. Until we meet again—the next life, whatever. We will meet again. I’ll see you again. It makes it a little easier.