• I was a 13 year old when I saw him. He was 17, working the carousel during a carnival on a warm summer night in August (Or July, you never remember when you get older). From that moment I saw him, I knew that he would leave a mark on my heart forever.
    My friends also saw him, all smitten by his wavy light brown hair, and his eyes that would squint every once in a while when he smiled.
    I was speechless, and I was in a moment that I could stay in forever. I was struck by one of Eros' golden arrows, and I was praying to every god and goddess possible, "Please, oh, PLEASE, let him notice me out of everyone!"
    Without any regret, I wasted every last coin to ride that carousel. And it was worth it.
    I got off the ride and my friends noticed me staring longingly at him.
    "Go talk to him! Do it!" They all cheered me on as I walked up to him.
    "Hey, that looks like it's a tough job!" Did that really just come out of my mouth? Stupidstupidstupidstupid!
    "Kinda is. I need my concentration."
    Shitshitshitshit, I messed it up already. He probably thinks I'm stupid!
    "Oh, I'll leave you be then, hehe..." 'Wait...was that a chuckle? Dear God...
    "I've get off in about an hour and a half, if you wanna wait and talk about running carousels."
    "OH! Well... Sure!"
    And that was the begining,
    His name was Adrian Romero, and he was from Arizona, it turned out. It seemed weird to me since it was like two completely different worlds, Massachusetts and Arizona..
    It seems like a blur to think of it now, all the way back then to when things were shiney and new. Untainted, where mistakes hadn't been too bad, where waters were clear.
    Somehow, despite my dumb comments, we hit it off. Or maybe we didn't. Either way, I had no idea what I was getting into, and he knew what he was doing.
    I was going through something hard, the infidelities of an on and off boyfriend from 6th grade, my parents being a**l about education, and just about everything else. I needed someone to look over me. Funny how he came into my life just about that time.
    He was a gentleman, true. I even broke up with my boyfriend for him. And we started being a couple. Things were great through out fall, but got choppier during winter. I knew that this was his last year in high school. I was only in 8th grade and still hiding the relationship. And he was fine with that. College acceptance letters came along, and he was going to California, UC Berkley.
    3,000 miles away. And he didn't seem too upset about it. Like our relationship was a joke. Well for me it wasn't, in fact I was head over heels for him.
    I loved him. He said he did too, but it was really empty words.
    He moved. I broke up with him. Found a new guy, still with Cory in fact.
    13 months happy, in a mutual loving relationship.
    He won't try and say "Glory, I love you and her, but more you than her." Or leave me feeling like I never was loved. Unlike Adrian.
    Adrian left the feeling of unsettled feelings, that I was used and not loved at all, just a bad mark on my heart filled with insecurity and hurt that only time could heal.
    It's been almost 2 years since I've met Adrian.
    Every time I see a carnival, I visit the carousel, and remember Him.
    And maybe waste my last cent.