As the New Year’s countdown ended the year 1998 began, little did I know that this was going to be the most memorable year of my life. Charles, my boyfriend, had just lifted me into the air at the Arbuckle Ballroom as myself and many others tore through plastic that held what seemed to be thousands of balloons. The smoke filled air was like a cloud as he lowered me back to the floor and kissed me on the cheek and said, “I love you.” I looked at him with a smile and said, “I love you too”. At that moment I realized I was truly in love.
Charles and I met when I was a freshman in high school and dated off and on until I was a senior; this is when I decided that I did not want a boyfriend. I had feelings for him, but I saw my friends going out to parties and having a good time so I thought I wanted do the same. My senior year flew by and before I knew it I was walking across stage at my high school graduation. I had my life planned, I was going to go college, get a good job, and become an adult.
I started college in the fall of 1997 along with a full time job. As I attended class during the day and worked at night I started thinking about Charles and all the good times that we had and I missed that. I missed seeing him, talking to him, going hunting and fishing together, I missed everything about him. The thoughts and memories of the two of us played over and over in my mind like a broken record. I went to sleep thinking of him and woke up doing the same. After days of this happening, I decided to call him. I picked up the phone, dialed his number and another girl answered; it was not his sister. I hung up. I thought to myself, how stupid of me to think that I could call him and things go back to the way there were a year ago. Was I so selfish that I expected him to put his life on hold while I tried to figure mine out? Not wanting to be the crazy ex-girlfriend I figured that my feelings for him would pass, I would meet someone to take his place and...