I came across an article in The Australian that made my heart turn into flowery, romantic mush. It was about first loves reuniting after years and lives apart. Whether it was 20, 40 or even 60 years since they’d last seen each other, the couples all spoke about how lucky they were to have a second chance at first love.
They had married other partners, moved interstate or overseas, had kids, but had never forgotten their first special someone. Many of the couples spoke about how they just knew their first love was right for them, but because of external influences they let them slip through their fingers.
All of a sudden I felt a huge lovey-dovey boost. My fiancé and I (without putting a specific number on it) are young, very young. We both went to the same high school and met when we were just 13. I was not the best-looking teenager, and despite the fact that I ranked somewhere between nerd and loner, I knew right away that this sensitive, athletic guy was the one for me. It took him a few years to feel the same way, but we’re now heading towards our seventh happy year with our wedding coming up in just a few short months.
I now realize just how lucky we both are. It was entirely possible that our parents could’ve moved interstate, or forbidden the young relationship. Despite us being together since the dawn of time, I still felt unsure about telling my mother about our decision to get married. I was sure I’d get the standard “you’re too young to make that kind of decision” response. Instead, both our families have embraced the idea with relish. I can’t help but imagine, had we been forced to separate all those years ago, what I’d be doing now and whether or not I’d still be thinking about him.
I realize that being a fuzzy romantic is incredibly gauche. I never considered myself to be anything but a stone-hearted realist, but I now know that beneath my heart of stone lies a squishy pink marshmallow center.
My advice for people who are scared to admit they got it right the first time, or for those of you who feel a bit silly admitting they met their partner in the playground, remember there’s nothing wrong with following your heart and your gut.
Flickr photo published under the Creative Commons licensed content.
