At the age of 16, you would think a girl’s first love would just be considered “puppy love” – but not me.
It was Oct. 28, 1998 and that day happened to be one of my good friend’s birthday. I had bought her a gift and planned to take it to school that morning. I received a call from my father asking if I wanted a ride to school and I thought, “That’s nice” because I lived five or six blocks from the high school. My father only lived three blocks from my house, so I walked to his house.
When I arrived my father introduced me to a boy named Manuel. My young heart skipped a beat because I saw the most handsome brown eyes and large smile that made me smile from ear to ear. He thought the present I was carrying for my friend that morning was for him because his birthday had just passed the day before.
I said I was sorry, that it wasn’t for him. He looked a little disappointed but then relieved, because why on earth would a girl he just met give him a belated birthday gift?
As we left for school my father suggested we go eat breakfast. As we were eating, I mentioned that I was a picky eater and he just laughed and told me he was too. At that moment I blushed and just knew that this would lead to a great friendship.
It took four months, but finally Manuel made a move I will never forget: our first kiss! Seven years later in the spring of 2005, we already had three beautiful little girls and got married. What day, you ask? Why, the day after my birthday of course, since we met the day after his birthday. It just sounded so poetic. It is the best feeling in the world to know that I married my best friend and to know he loves me as much as I love him.
Now, 15 years later, our love for each other has never diminished. Although there have been bumps in the road, we wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.
