''LOVE TRUMPS HATE! LOVE TRUMPS HATE! LOVE TRUMPS HATE!'' Lauren takes a moment to stop chanting the sentence over and over again and take a deep breath and look around. She can't believe how many people showed up.
So many people who decided to show the world what they believe in. Show the world that they cannot be silenced. So many people who are taking action instead of only using words.
It's moments like these that she feels proud to be a part of America. Of American history.
And history is being made today. Never before has there been a protest this big after a president's inauguration. Never before has a president won with so many people voting against him. It's a strange world we're living in, and as of January 20th, it became even stranger and definitely scarier when Trump officially became president of the United States of America.
Lauren looks around, holding her sign that says 'Hearts and minds alike unite in the name of Human Rights' proudly in the air and grinning at the people around her. The second she heard there was going to be a Women's March, she knew she had to be a part of it.
''Lauren, you alright?'' her friend calls out, noticing the green-eyed girl growing quiet. But Lauren turns her grin towards her friend and nods quickly.
''Yeah, just appreciating the moment.'' She tells her with a smile and her friend just nods with an understanding look.
The feeling of being here with all these people is hard to describe. Men and mostly women of all backgrounds, races, religions, sexual orientations, genders and classes have united. The feeling of belonging, of unity with all these people around her, is what stands out the most.
She doesn't know these people but it feels like they are all her brothers and sisters, fighting for their rights and freedom with her. She knows they are all in this together.
She continues walking and prepares herself to start chanting along with the enormous crowd again when she spots a rainbow flag in the corner of her eyes. She turns towards it curiously and sees two girls standing close to each other, the flag wrapped around them both just like Lauren's own rainbow flag is wrapped around her waist.
She sees them leaning in towards each other and she feels butterflies in her stomach from excitement. As soon as the girls kiss, people all around them start cheering loudly and Lauren cheers along. She feels represented.
One of the girls smiles at the other when they pull away and raises her sign that says 'Love wins' and people start cheering again.
All of a sudden a girl jumps towards the couple and starts jumping up and down with them excitedly with a big grin.
''Yes! Love wins, I'm proud of you girls! You are so welcome here, we love you!'' she screams loudly and the crowd screams along with her. Lauren grins at the girl and watches her long dark brown hair bounce around her head.
When she turns around to let go of the girls and continue her march, Lauren sees her face and it seems like the world stops for a moment. Her brown eyes are sparkling, her hair is glowing in the gentle sunlight and her smile is enchanting.
Lauren's lips part slightly as she looks at the girl who keeps yelling out sentences and a lot of people behind her seem to follow her lead, taking her undeniable enthusiasm and strength as an example.
Lauren finds herself infatuated immediately.
And then the girl turns to her in the middle of a twirl and their eyes connect. Lauren sees the rainbow stickers on her cheeks but the intense stare of the brown eyes and the power and confidence they carry make her knees weak.
