The scene: 4 years ago. August 3, 2017. Allstate Arena, Rosemont, Illinois. 

This was a night of euphoria seeing my favorite artist in concert for the first time. Shawn Mendes. 

The dimmed lights had come back on as people started shuffling out of their seats, and the arena. I headed to the bathroom. My dad, who despite not having any interest in a Shawn Mendes concert, had taken me to the concert, and waited by the exit while I went to the bathroom. 

When I got back to my dad, a security guard was walking away from him. When you think of security guards at a concert, you usually think of the people with headphones that are ensuring that nobody jumps onto stage or brings any weapons into the arena. But now when I think of concert security guards, I think of this one. 

This security guard had handed my dad a signed tour poster for me, while I was in the bathroom. 

I didn’t, and still don’t, know his name. What I do know is that the poster he gave me is framed on my wall. It is a reminder for me of the nights spent screaming the lyrics and dancing at concerts. The nights that make me feel alive.