First Love

First Love

written by: Merle T. Harris

 

We met at the end of the school year, having been introduced by a mutual friend.
His milk-chocolate complexion, large mouth, and wide nose were framed by his curly hair and small ears.
But my attraction to him was not physical. It was his soft, calm demeanor.
Every time I thought of him, my heart skipped a beat.
For the next few days, I felt different. I kept replaying our meeting over and over in my mind. And each time my body reacted.
I felt light-headed. Everything seemed brighter.
Days passed, and even though he was not near, I could still feel the effects of his presence.
Finally, he came late one evening. But I could feel something was different. My body was not reacting the way it had. Even his face didn’t possess the glow it once had.
“We can not be close friends,” he said. And with those words, he kissed me.
In spite of those hurtful words, I only remember his kiss. How could such a kiss carry such a hurtful message?
I later learned another had stolen his heart, and she happened to be one of my best friends.
I spent the rest of that summer dreaming of what could have been and forgiving her even after they were no longer an item.
Love and loss in a summer.