Today, I put an old CD in and thought of you.

You probably don’t remember me. I can’t imagine that I would be all the memorable in your eyes, even though I remember every last detail of your face. The details of our meeting are still fresh in my mind, but they pale in comparison to the night we shared talking for hours in a hotel breezeway. I came in past curfew. You ran off to your room leaving me behind.

You had leaned into me. Fear froze me in place as I tried to figure out what you were doing. Our lips met and I felt the warmth and softness of a kiss for the first time. You pulled away curious, trying to understand my confusion. You had no way of knowing that you had been my first.

I still feel the tightness in my chest when I remember the realization that I would never see you again.

Till this day, I still think of you, Monica. I remember the smell of your hair. I can still feel the burn on my lips. The pressure of your hand in mine is still there. All of these things, I appreciate, but I thank you, most of all, for giving me the confidence I have today.