Emily & Lawal (& Remy)

Lawal and I met when I was a Resident Assistant in college. He would come each year for summer programs, which were housed in my building. I truly believe in the invisible string theory because there were so many reasons for our relationship to not work out, with him living in North Carolina while I was living in Kentucky for college, but serendipitously, it did. The summer Lawal pursued me, I was resistant because he was leaving for North Carolina soon and I didn’t want to get caught up in feelings. He asked me for a chance, for “10 Days”, and if I wasn’t feeling it, he would leave it alone. That night, we talked on a rooftop until 6am. He asked for 10 days and it only took me 12 hours. -Emily

Q: What are you most looking forward to about marrying the other person?

Emily: In a lot of ways, it feels like we are already married & have been for years! But I look forward to honoring him & his family by taking the Alhassan last name & for us to create little Emily’s & Lawal’s that hopefully all have Lawal’s cheekbones!

Lawal: Kids & the accompanying adventure with raising them. Most of the things that come with marrying Emily are already present in my life- traveling, consulting each other when making big decision & spending time even we’re not doing anything. So the next step I’m most excited for would be little Lawal and little Emily- hopefully more little Emily than little me!

Q: Who does Remy take more after?

Emily: We joke all the time that Remy is just like me! She’s spoiled, goofy, and a little sassy. But Remy is just like both of us in the sense that she loves a good workout followed by a 4-hour nap.

Lawal: Remy is 300% Emily, to the point where it would surprise you. She’s gorgeous, super friendly, and everyone loves her. She’s stubborn too, but don’t tell either of them I said that!

Q: If you could describe your partner as a color, what color would it be and why?

Emily: Lawal is yellow.. He is energetic, fun, & warm. Strangers are drawn to him & he welcomes each one just as much as the next. Old ladies in stores ask him to reach things for them & middle-aged men slap him on the back while sharing a good joke. Lawal is my light in dark times & although black is his go-to color, he, himself, is yellow.

Lawal: Emily is warm yellow- something close to goldenrod. I’ve thought about this in the past. Emily is one of my reminders that there is still good in the world- “sunshine on a cloudy day” if you remember that old Temptations song. I’ve never met someone in my life that so genuinely wants the best for everyone around them. And if you have the best currently, she wants better for you. Just like sunshine, we should all have some Emily in our lives. I know I’m better off for it. :)