A Thank You Letter To My First Love

To My First Love,

We all have that one…

All of a sudden the memories came floating back. Maybe it is the fact that is has been four years, maybe it is the fact that once again we are about to graduate – this time headed towards the real world. Maybe, just maybe, it is just the timing of Adele’s new hit single.. I just thought you should know how truly grateful I am to have had you in my life at one point!

When we first met we were juniors in high school, thrilled that summer was two months away. We were on separate paths with separate plans, but that did not last too long. We worked long hours in the heat, running around the café, distracted as we tried to get the orders to the customers. We hung out almost every summer night, from driving our co-worker home, running errands, and just sitting in the driveway talking. We were dating without labeling it with each other and we were so nervous, I cannot help but laugh about it now. After a few weeks of the nervousness, I was almost convinced that you were gay because you commented on my nail polish color instead of kissing me goodnight. A few days later, after convincing myself that you were not, we kissed.. sort of.. for some reason we were both so nervous and slightly missed. You asked for a re-do and I laughed, then you asked me to be your girlfriend. Those summer months allowed us to gain so much and even after you returned home from your vacation, it was like you never left. It was the start of something new and real.. it was my first love story and loving you was truly ‘red.’

We were young, naïve, and at one point in love. If we could go back we would probably not have thought we would end up where we are now…

Distant strangers in the same city,

Facebook friends who occasionally wish each other a happy birthday,

An everlasting Taylor Swift breakup song…

We were seniors in high school who believed we could conquer the world together. I will not lie to you, once in a blue moon, I wonder how you are or what you have been up to and I even wonder if maybe you have found the one.

If you are wondering about me: I am doing amazing, graduation is a semester away. After changing my major for the tenth time, I was just accepted into a nursing program. I have dated a few, but agree with many when they say that I am still too young to settle down.. I am enjoying my life!

You were the first of many things:

love, adventure, experience, and of course heartbreak

But I want to thank you, because I may not have had the chance before to say it..

So thank you…

You taught me how to love

You taught me trust

You taught me how to be strong

You made me want to be the best that I can be

You taught me how to laugh, especially at myself

You taught me how to enjoy life

You never judged me

You taught me what I want and what I do not want in my future

You listened to me, even when you were right, and I was wrong

You danced with me at our senior prom

You taught me that heartbreak is a part of life and Taylor Swift knows me too well

You taught me how to move on, by not answering my 3am calls freshman year

You set the bar high for any man that I meet

Although we no longer speak, I truly wish you the best. I hope you have nothing but happiness and that you get everything you ever wanted. You will always have a special place in my heart, you taught me how to love and how to be loved. I hope you make it big out there in the real world.

XoXo,

Your first love 

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