It happened back in August, our last day together before our senior year
We met at the beach to say our goodbyes
Like we always had for the past 10 years of our lives
Except that time it was different
That time we weren’t 7 year old kids with our parents
Or 12 year old preteens hugging our best friend
Or 14 year old rising freshmen saying goodbye to a crush
That time we were 17 years old, saying goodbye to the love of our lives
I saw your face and a smile crept onto mine
My mind traveled back to when we first met
We were young and our parents bought beach houses next one another
Over the course of summers you became my best friend
We talked and hung out all summer and emailed throughout the year
When we reunited the summer I turned fourteen, something about you changed
I No longer saw you as my best friend, but something more
I woke up each morning with anticipation of seeing you without a shirt on
I loved being your friend, but I wished for more
Several years later you confessed on June 5, my birthday
We celebrated our usual way, with cake and presents after lunch
You gave me two of the best birthday presents in the world
First you gave me a beautiful heart shaped necklace
With a note that said you would explain
Hours later you asked me to go on a walk with you
We laughed and talked about our past
Our hands bumped every few seconds
Suddenly you stopped and turned towards me
You took my hands; your thumb rubbed the back of mine
You ocean blue eyes looked directly in my forest green eyes
When you spoke, you spoke to my heart
You opened your heart to me by saying that you loved me since you were thirteen
My smile a mile wide as I confessed that I loved you since I was fourteen
You smiled brighter than the sun behind you
You pulled me into your arms, and told me that your heart belonged to me
When we finally drew away from one another, your eyes sparkled like the stars in a night sky
You took my hand, intertwined our fingers and you lead me back to my summer home
At my back door, you hugged me and gently kissed my forehead
You wished me a fantastic time with my family
Throughout the summer we hung out on our beach
We took our time with the physical part of our relationship, not wanting to rush it
But the summer came to an end and you hadn’t kissed me yet
It was our last day together, both of us leaving soon, you tonight, and me tomorrow morning
I was lying out in the sun; you were surfing with your friends
I watched as you rode the wave to shore, you ran out of the water towards me
Your eyes locked on me the whole way over
You stopped a few inches from me, and shook your wet hair, water sprayed all over me
I squealed, jumped up and pushed you away, laughing
You took advantage of that moment and picked me up
You ran with me in your arms towards the ocean
When you got deep enough you threw me
I came up for air and splashed water on your face
After a few minutes of flirty water fight, you pulled me into your arms
You looked me in the eyes; a slow smile crept on your face
You brushed your hand across my face
My eyes closed for a few seconds as I leaned my head towards the sensation
I opened my eyes, and your face was so tender
Your eyes intense and locked on mine
You said you loved me and pulled me closer
The next thing I knew your lips touched mine
Every part of my body came alive
When you pulled away moments later, my heart was pounding
You smiled at me as you put some space between us
Your eyes full of love as you took my hand
You led me back to shore, where we spent our last few hours together
The day ended before we knew it
The time came for our families to say good bye
After I hugged your parents, I faced you
You pulled me into your arms and held me tight
You whispered in my ear that you would call me when you landed
I nodded, I didn’t want you to leave, I didn’t want summer to end
You stroked my hair over and over again
One last final kiss goodbye and an exchange of I love you
You left with a reminder that your heart belonged to me and a promise that you would call everyday
Tears filled my eyes wishing you were next to me
Up in my room, waiting for your call
I wondered if this relationship would stand the test of distance
***six years later***
I’m lying on the same beach where I first met you
I sit up just in time to see my husband ride his surfboard towards shore
He runs towards me and stops a few feet from me and shakes his wet hair, splattering me with water
I squeal, jump up and playfully hit him
He then picks me up and hurries me to the water and throws me in
When I come up for air, I splash him playfully
After a few minutes of the flirty water fight
He pulls me into his arms, with a slow smile creeping onto his face
He brushes his hand across my face
He wishes me a happy twenty-third birthday
Slowly he kisses me
He pulls away moments later and tells me he loves me with all his heart
And that he’s glad that he married the love of his life
The girl who’s had his heart since he was thirteen
I sarcastically reply that’s a new line, because you have pulled the same stunt for 6 years
I smile up at him, knowing that I love him with all my heart
And whisper to him but strangely it still has the same effect over me as it did the first time I heard it
You laugh at me and pull me in for a longer kiss than the first
When you finally pull away, your eyes are sparkling the same way they did 6 years ago
All I can think is how I’m the luckiest girl in the whole world