Isabella · A Private Monograph
Apr · MMXXVI
Issue № I · Volume of Us
Apr · MMXXVI · For Her Eyes

for my wife, on her birthday

Isabella

April the Sixteenth · MMXXVI

— from Joey, with everything

Osei & Osei · edition of one
turn the page
Printed on the finest cream
Contents

A monograph in five chapters

Some chapters are memories. Some are promises. Read slowly. None of it was rushed.

  1. I Our Story from a pew in 2019
  2. II Ten Reasons things I want you to know
  3. III Us, in Photographs a contact sheet of joy
  4. IV A Letter everything I mean
  5. V What Comes Next a chapter sealed for two

a few pages are sealed — only Isabella has the key

Chapter the First
I

Our Story

From the beginning · IX entries
The day we met
aug · mmxix I / ix
I

August 18, 2019

The day I met you at church

I'll never forget that moment. I knew you were a major character in the story of my life, I just didn't know how major.

First date
dec · mmxix II / ix
II

December 3, 2019

The day we started building more than a friendship

There wasn't a fancy date or expensive gift but I remember my younger self expressing to you that I wanted to be more than just friends.

COVID pause
apr · mmxx III / ix
III

April 18, 2020

The world stops because of COVID.

The entire globe paused because of COVID and so did our world too.

Coffee chat
dec · mmxxi IV / ix
IV

December 10, 2021

Our coffee chat

After some time apart we worked on rebuilding our friendship.

Someone's wedding
jul · mmxxii V / ix
V

July 23, 2022

Someone's wedding

You sang for the bride to walk down the aisle and I played the keys for you. We didn't fully understand the beauty of that moment.

Back together
jan · mmxxiii VI / ix
VI

January 27, 2023

The day we made it official

The more mature versions of ourselves decided to give us a real shot.

The Knocking
nov · mmxxiii VII / ix
VII

November 23, 2023

The Knocking

This is when everything became real. Our families were involved and we had officially started the marriage process.

Engagement
apr · mmxxiv VIII / ix
VIII

April 6, 2024

The day I asked you to be mine forever

Down on one knee, out on the beach and I was actually able to surprise you.

Traditional wedding
feb · mmxxv IX / ix
IX

February 14, 2025

The traditional wedding

I threw up the morning of. Everyone called it nerves but maybe I was just getting rid of the old me.

White wedding
feb · mmxxv X / ix
X

February 15, 2025

The white wedding

We decided to do it again as if we weren't already married. Everything was so beautiful.

Jamaica
apr · mmxxv XI / ix
XI

April 28, 2025

Jamaica Incident

We were almost stranded in the ocean, but somehow we are still here. The miracle we will never forget.

Sealed chapter
mmxxv XII / ix
XII

For her eyes only

For her eyes only

Some chapters are ours alone, for a little while longer.

?

a photo
yet to be taken

XIII

Soon

More pages that are yet to be written

Honestly our story has just begun.

Chapter the Second
II

Ten Reasons

Things about you I want on permanent record.

I — X
  1. I
    № 01

    The way you love God makes me love you more.


  2. II
    № 02

    The best voice I've ever heard, and I get to hear it for the rest of my life.


  3. III
    № 03

    The most beautiful person in every room, without even trying.


  4. IV
    № 04

    You don't just enter spaces, you brighten them.


  5. V
    № 05

    The way you love your family tells me everything about how you'll love our future family.


  6. VI
    № 06

    Your intuition and how you are always right (*mostly right)


  7. VII
    № 07

    You make me want to be more. You always push me to be better.


  8. VIII
    № 08

    Your laugh is my favorite sound. Your smile, my favorite sight.


  9. IX
    № 09

    You celebrate the people around you in the best possible ways, even in the smallest moments.


  10. X
    № 10

    And after everything, I just love you.

fin.
Chapter the Fourth
IV

A Letter

For you — and only you.

private · sealed

A letter,
for you alone.

This page is sealed until the riddle is answered.
If you're Isabella, you know the way in.

(otherwise, the book is still yours — keep reading)

Chapter the Fifth · & final
V

What Comes Next

A chapter sealed for two.

The rest of this page is for Isabella alone.
If you have the key, you can unseal it.

(otherwise, the rest of the book is still yours)

Coda

to the most beautiful woman I know

Happy
Birthday,
Isabella

April · XVI · MMXXVI

"I love you more than I did yesterday,
and less than I will tomorrow."

made with every bit of love I have

— Joey