It is all coming to an end. It was the last camera blocking for them and also the last rehearsal. Nov. 26 will mark the finale of ‘Dancing With the Stars’ season 33 and while all five couples will give their best to win the Mirror Ball trophy, it is a bittersweet moment because their journey will come to an end. That’s exactly how Stephen Nedoroscik and his pro dancing partner Rylee Arnold feel. Their connection wasn’t just professional; it went beyond as they formed a sibling-like bond.

In fact, earlier this month, Nedoroscik and his girlfriend Tess McCraken accompanied Arnold and her boyfriend, Walker Lyons, on a double date. They attended the ‘Wicked‘ premiere in Los Angeles on November 9 and Arnold couldn’t stop gushing about it. “Me, Stephen, Tess, and Walker go really well together. We had such a good time, and honestly, one of my favorite date nights,” she shared. The dancer even joked that Nedoroscik approved of her new boyfriend, who is a USC freshman tight end. But the couples may not get another such date night soon since DWTS is coming to an end.

Owing to what an emotional roller coaster the entire journey has been for them, Arnold had a message for Nedoroscik. On November 25, the Instagram handle of DWTS shared a minute-long snippet, where she said, “Stephen, I’m already crying because I just have so much love for you in my heart. I am so, so, so, so proud of you. You have shown me every single week how hard you work and how inspiring you are.”

“You have taken this life and just made the most out of it. It is so cool to see your journey. It all started with you being the pommel horse guy… working so hard for your craft and now, you are here on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ stage. We made the finale, which is so insane, and I am so glad that my very first finale is with you. It is going to be so so special.”

“Thank you for being the light in my life. Bringing so much positivity and kindness and you truly have healed me in so many ways and I am so grateful that you are my partner this season. I can’t wait to kill that finale. We are going to win that Mirror Ball. I just know we can do it. I am so proud of you and I love you. Thank you for being the bestest friend ever,” Arnold shared her feelings in a shaky voice.

While Nedoroscik has had to deal with strabismus and coloboma—two eye conditions—he had had since childhood, Arnold has been dealing with type 1 diabetes for three years. While it was one of the most difficult times in her life, seeing Nedoroscik’s success despite his medical conditions seems to have changed her perspective towards life too.

But hey, it wasn’t just Rylee Arnold who had an emotional message for her dance partner. Nedoroscik too had a message for Arnold. What did he say?

Stephen Nedoroscik looks back at his journey on DWTS and Arnold

Nedoroscik was not a dancer and he could have imagined himself on such a big stage. As a kid from Worcester, he was quite active and would climb anything he could. He would shimmy up the walls to scare his babysitters but dancing? That wasn’t his cup of tea. But today, he can proudly exclaim he is a dancer, who can translate his gymnastics moves onto the biggest stage.

In his message to Arnold, he said, “Hey, Rylee! Just wanna like, look back on the season, my journey with you. You have just been unbelievably positive. You have been so patient with me and honestly, I don’t think, I would have made it to the final with literally anyone else.”

“And you are just the kindest, sweetest person and it just means everything to me that you trust me. You took me through the process and turned me into a dancer. And I have loved ever second of our journey together and I am going to miss your burps and all of that fun stuff and yeah, love you and let’s freaking get this Mirror Ball.”

The IG reel shared by DWTS was so emotional that fans took to the comment section and mentioned how much they would miss seeing the duo. But hey, let us not forget that the finale is still left and it will take place just a couple of hours from now. The finale will witness two Olympians, Stephen Nedoroscik and Ilona Maher, amongst the other couples competing for the trophy.

Who do you think will win this season? Let us know in the comments below.