Viri was looking for a collaborator; she found a partner.
It began with a DM regarding Viri's children's book, A Day Without Fear. She needed an illustrator, and Fern's work was the perfect fit. The first Google Meets call was scheduled (strictly business of course), the conversation flowed effortlessly.

What was supposed to be a quick consultation turned into daily calls with hours of conversation about art, life, and ambition. The connection was undeniable. By the time we met for our first "business" date, the dynamic had already shifted. Fern, wanting to make a lasting impression, took the lead—confidently ordering secret off-menu sashimi to show he knew his way around a menu (and to win Viri over).

It worked. We quickly became inseparable—moving in together, building a home, and binging animated movies side-by-side. We pushed each other to grow as artists and as people. Three years later, surrounded by family on Thanksgiving, Fern proposed.

Ironically, the book that connected us is still a work in progress.

But it served its purpose perfectly:
it brought us together
so we could face every day without fear.