We have known each other for approximately 7 years now. From 7th grade to our first year of college. And what a journey it was.
In middle school, we didn't talk as much, but we found each other hilarious. I remember one time when we had a science fair, it was required for our science project. I bullshit that assignment. But Isis was there. First, when she saw me and my dad, she strolled up to my dad and greeted him like some Italian guy,
"Aye, Mr. Torres! Get it? Since we have the same last name?"
And she awkwardly smiled, let out a nervous laugh, and made small talk with him. I had to hold my laugh in. To this day, we still reminisce on it. And after that, we went out to get ice cream. She had her sister in her arms and we rapped Hamilton in front of her and the toddler laughed, hiding her face in Isis' neck to contain it.
Then, from the 8th to 11th grade, we gradually became closer. For a time, we didn't speak as we weren't in the same schools and quarantine. But when quarantine was finally lifted, we happened to see each other again. In the same school and the same program. Over time, we got closer and closer until we reached the pinnacle of our relationship. Small talk and fleeting jokes turned into excited chatter about complete nonsense and whispers of our troubles and woes.
We went to the city together during the winter to raise money with our class, and we took a picture with Spider-Man who pestered us for a tip. The first one we saw flipped us off. Every day, first period, she would sit in her unofficial assigned chair and hang out with us every morning, where we would die of laughter from the most random things. It was also where we had our debriefs from the day before as a group so we knew what we were getting ourselves into for the rest of the day. We went ice skating for one of our senior trips. I posed, fell, and bruised my arm. She took a picture and recorded me. For her last birthday, we went to an escape room with her family at the mall, and afterwards, her family thought we were a couple. On our senior trip, we slept in the same room together and went snow tubing, swimming, and partying together. A lot happened within the 2 and a half days we were there. We had moments where I softly kissed her face and wiped away her tears to remind her of her worth and cooed reassurances in her ear. And she watched as I broke down in our room and she held me in her arms and hushed me until I stopped crying. We went to the mall on multiple occasions, whether it was to go to Spencer's, Five Below, or go to the movies. One time my zipper broke and we spent 20 minutes in the changing room of a thrift store trying to fix it, she ended up having to buy me a four dollar tank top. We laughed. And she sleeps over whenever she can, and we stay up until 3:00 in the morning cracking up over the dumbest things. We've gone to Disney together, and on top of the magic we experienced during our stay there, being with her made it even more magical.
And there are so many more moments that I could list that describe just as to why she is so special to me. But there are too many so I will shorten it to this: She is my light. Time and time again she has been there for me and anyone who needs support. She is a beautiful and kind girl and soul. And anyone would be a fool to not want to know her.
