I remember the first time I saw her. I don’t know what it was about her that made her stand out but she was just one of those people you couldn’t not see. Or at least she was to me. Others tended to look over her, look at her other friends but my eyes once they found her; it was nearly impossible to look away. The first time I saw her, we were in the cafeteria. She was walking with a group of people all in tracksuits. I later learned she was on the swim team, she was one of the fastest swimmers the school had ever seen in years. Something that utter makes someone cocky and arrogant, but she wasn’t. She acted as if it was nothing special, just something she could do. I’d later learn that it wasn’t her only special skill. That along with swimming, she could also sing, cook and was freakishly good at chess.
I remember the first time she saw me. It was almost like she sensed someone was looking at her and she had to look up and find out who. It didn’t take her long and our eyes matched. Her beautiful brown eyes filled with curiosity and then in an instant it was gone, and filled with confidence. She then smiled at me, the biggest smile I’d ever seen. I won’t lie, it totally made me feel special and I couldn’t stop the blush that rose onto my cheek when she smiled at me. It felt like time had stopped, it was standing still and nothing around us seemed to matter and allowed us to have this moment together. It was fleeting but it was there.
I remember the first time I heard her voice. She was walking through the hallways with a group of swimmers. She was telling them all a funny but exciting story. I kept worrying that she was going to run out of oxygen because she was talking so fast. It was kind of cute. She accidentally bumped me as she was walking past and immediately apologized. The first words she ever said to me was I’m sorry. I later learnt it wouldn’t be the first time she ever said those words to me, I lost count after the first fifty times. She likes apologizing, even when it wasn’t her fault.
I remember the first time I finally learnt her name. Emily. Emily Fields. It just really seems to have fitted her, I couldn’t explain but she just had one of those names. I had learnt it through my younger sister, Spencer. They were in the same year level and shared some classes together. It had taken some digging but Spencer finally coughed it up. I am embarrassed to admit it but after that I spent weeks doodling her name in the margin of my books. I would have died if any of my friends had found out. I wasn’t embarrassed to have a crush on someone younger than me. It was more the factor of we hadn’t even really spoken and I was already this far gone.
I remember the first time I actually spoke to her, using my own words to her face. The swim team had won a really big race against our school rival and Emily had played a massive part in it. So, I decided to take the opportunity to congratulate her. I waited until she was alone at her locker switching out books in between classes, when I made my move.
“Hey, congratulations,” I said, the nerves bubbling in my stomach.
“Hi, thank-you,” Emily replied, giving me a strange look.
“You're the girl who’s always staring at me,” Emily then said, seeming to connect the dots as to who I was.
“Umm…yeah sorry about that,” I embarrassingly replied, this wasn’t how I wanted things to go.
“It’s okay, I don’t mind. I’m Emily,” she said, holding out her hand.
I smiled at the hand before answering “Melissa, Melissa Hastings,” I took her hand and shook it. I was surprised at how soft her hands seem to be, I assumed it was because always being in the water.
“Spencer Hastings sister?” Emily asked.
“Yeah,” I replied.
“Wow, genetics and DNA must be strong in your family.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because you are both beautiful women, of course.” Such a flirt I couldn’t help but think while also blushing.
Emily then asked me “Would you maybe want to go out sometime?”
“I don’t know, by go out what does that imply?”
“Maybe some pizza under the stars.”
“Emily Fields, are you asking me out on a date?”
“Hmm… I must be. Are you free on Friday?”
“Maybe,” I replied, starting to walk away.
“Hey, Melissa!” Emily called out.
“Yeah?” I replied, turning to look at her.
“So, how did you know my last name?”
Just like that I was caught, found out. But Emily didn't seem to mind, just found my stalker qualities cute.
I remember our first date, pizza under the stars like Emily had promise. She had gotten a picnic blanket and found this quiet spot in town, where no one could bother us and we could just talk. It surprised me how much we had in common or had the same values or opinions on the same things.
I remember our second date, we snuck out late one night and got ice-cream together. We hadn’t seen each other in weeks, due to my taking my exams and stressing about graduating. Worrying that Emily and I would end up just being another tragic High School sweethearts who drift apart because of our age and time. But Emily wanted to reassure me, so she came over and got me to sneak out of the house. Something I had never done before. We shared a tub of ice cream together while talking over everything. Emily had been truly amazing, putting my mind at ease.
I remember when Emily asked me to be her girlfriend for the first and only time. She was so nervous, it was beyond adorable. She asked me while holding a box of my favourite chocolates and my favourite flower, one single sunflower. How could I not say yes to her, I would’ve been absolutely crazy to have said anything else but yes.
I remember our third date, we went to this coffee house Emily knew. Drunk coffees, or I did. Emily didn’t like coffee, so she just had hot chocolate. But we were there up until close, we couldn’t stop talking. Finding out new things about each other, there just never seemed to be enough time to find out new things.
I remember the first time Emily told me she loved me and I remember the first time I told Emily I loved her. I waited for her to say it first. Even though I knew for a very long time, I had taken a lot of chances first and I want Emily to say it first. Once she did, I couldn’t help but say it back straight away because I did love her with all of my heart.
I remember telling my friends we were dating. Who weren’t at all surprised, it was me who was surprised that they knew anything was going on. But, once they told me they had caught me staring a couple of times they figured it’d only be a matter of time before the Hastings went after what a Hastings wanted.
I remember telling my sister we were dating. She also wasn’t all that surprised but seemed happy. Especially when she and Emily started hanging out and becoming friends. Emily just really seemed to like people and always got along with whoever she needed to.
I remember telling my parents we were dating. They were surprised, mostly because I had never dated a female or mentioned my attraction to females. But after meeting Emily they seem to have gotten it and approved. Emily was just one of those people, you had to meet and once you did you couldn’t not want to be in her life.
I remember meeting Emily’s parents for the first time. I first met Emily’s Mum Pam Fields. Emily had warned me about her and I tried my best. Which seemed to have work. Apparently I’m the only girl Emily’s dated, who her Mum actually approved of. When I finally got to meet Emily’s Dad, Wayne Fields. He wasn’t at all what I expected after meeting Pam. He was warm, he was welcoming and he was very much like Emily. Two-kindred spirits. He instantly loved me, demanding me to come around for dinner whenever he was in town.
I remember the first time Emily cooked for me. Lasagna from scratch. Emily had made it for me when I was sad and she knew it was my favourite thing to eat when I was upset. Who could be sad around lasagna, especially when your beautiful girlfriend made it for you.
I remember the first time hearing Emily sing for me, Everything by Michael Bublé. I had taken months of us dating before I had finally convinced Emily to sing something for me. She only sang for me once we were completely alone, out in the barn together. Her voice was sweet and very smooth. We made love together for the first time that night. We were each other’s first time and we shared it together. We had held off for as long as we could and it had been well worth the wait.
I remember the first time I played chess against Emily, thinking I was going to win and then I was beaten convincingly. When Emily won she just gave me this smirk and it had turned me on way more than it should have. We shared our second time together that night.
I remember the day Emily lost her dad. I remember the first time she cried in front of me. I remember the chill that ran down my spine at Emily confiding in me that she wished she could join the military like her dad, but that she couldn’t do that to me or her mum.
I remember our first apartment together. It was some small and cheap place not far from our university we were both going to, and we had chosen the same school to attend. It wasn’t much of a place but it was ours.
I remember our first holiday together. Emily had never seen the ocean, so how could I not take her to the Venice Boardwalk. We spent hours at the beach together, somehow Emily got even more tan while I got sunburnt.
I remember our first pet, a frog and we named him Adam. In dedication to Emily’s Dad, who’s middle name had been Adam. He had been the bestest frog in the world, so we couldn’t help but get him a friend. This one we named, Paul. After my Dad Peter, who’s middle name was Paul.
I remember when Emily got down on one knee to propose to me. She has baked a cake with white frosting spelling out the words ‘Will You Marry Me?’ written on top and again I would’ve been crazy to have said any other answer, other than yes.
I remember our wedding day like it was yesterday. Emily cried at seeing me walking down the aisle on my fathers arms. Emily cried as she tried to speak her loving vows to me. Emily vowing to love me forever. Everything about that day had just been the image of perfection. Everything one could hope for on their wedding day.
It had all gone by like the speed of light but at the same time, wasn’t it just yesterday that it happened. It happened the way life happens. I hope to never forget the day I met my person, my soul-mate, my one true love, my Emily, my wife. My best friend. The one I was always destined to be with. We met through a glance, through a chance.
The End.