The Heart Never Gives Up

When she was eleven, he walked into her life. He was, quite possibly, only the second boy that she crushed over. She would stay at his place (she was friends with his sister) and he would tell corny jokes.

When she was twelve, she wrote a poem about him, without ever mentioning his name. The teacher read it, because the girl was too shy. She knew she was wearing her heart on her sleeve, but she couldn't help it.

One day, while on a field trip, she overheard him talking to another girl. He was a year and a grade older, so she didn't hang out in the same circles once he reached high school. She still saw his sister and hung out with his mom, however.

The girl that he was talking to asked him why he didn't have a girlfriend. He explained that he didn't want to leave her behind. He was planning on going into the Air Force. When the girl heard this, she squished her feelings. She shoved them aside and refused to touch them again.

…until she entered the ninth grade.

She walked into the small building, a familiar place. The people were and always had been friendly. As soon as he walked in, though, she was flooded with childhood thoughts and feelings.

She didn't tell him though. She should have. But she was only fifteen and not really big into dating. He was apparently aware that she once had a crush on him. He had known for years. Her thoughts were correct: she had been wearing her heart on her sleeve.

By the time she was in 12th grade (unofficially of course), she still hadn't done anything about her renewed feelings. She started dating her best friend, but it only lasted 6 months. She started suspecting that part of the reason the dating scene had no interest for her was because her heart had been stolen unawares many years before, and she had never gotten it back.

She took a year off, not quite done with high-school. She kept in contact with her friends from school, including her crush. She asked him point blank one day, after finding out that he was dating someone else, why he never asked her. He told her because he didn't want to hurt her ex's feelings. She sat and pondered that.

She vowed to let him go, but it was difficult, because she had learned a few years back that when the heart wants something, it never gives up.