When You Wait ✔️

The hot August sun beat through the window as I watched millions of tiny dust particles dance in circles in the sunlight. I was at Daniel's house, in his room, on his bed, and we were alone.

Daniel Louis started out as a friend. He lived next door to my best friend, and a group of us kids would hang out every weekend, driving around the neighborhood with our new driver's licenses, swimming beneath the night stars, or just talking about life. It was all fun and games, until I noticed his eyes.

How they were soft and seemed to listen when you spoke. And his smile, which felt like the first warm day after three months of winter.

From late summer through my entire junior year, my feelings for him flourished.

Except he went to homecoming with the queen. He talked with the guys about other girls. I never thought he would notice me.

But he did.

We started talking more often. He occasionally dropped a flirty line in amongst his jokes. One afternoon, to my astonishment, he asked me to prom. At my high school, prom was only for seniors. He was a senior, I was a junior, and he wanted me to be his date! My heart soared.

Like a true teenage cliché, prom was amazing. We danced all evening, then spent the whole night together with friends, getting pancakes at 1 am, and finally watching the sunrise from a lookout over the entire city. During the night, Daniel spontaneously kissed me on the cheek and my heart jumped. I knew he felt something for me too.

It was morning when he dropped me off, foggy and chilly. He walked me out and said he had an amazing time. Our eyes locked for what felt like an eternity; my stomach twisted in a hundred backflips. He was going to kiss me!

He smiled, got back in his car, and went home.

For months after, I waited for Daniel to say the words I so wanted to hear. To kiss me like I was waiting for him to do on that foggy morning. There were signs that our feelings were mutual - prolonged hugs, caring looks across a lunch table, holding hands in the dark during a movie night. So I waited for him.

That August afternoon, I told myself to stop waiting. To say something. He was leaving for college, and we were all alone. This was my chance.

But I got nervous. I kept quiet.

For weeks, I imagined endless different afternoons in my head. What if I had told Daniel the truth - How I felt? That I'd loved him for a year?

Daniel and I drifted; he went to college and has a girlfriend. I have my own life and serious boyfriend. I don't know where my life would be if I hadn't waited on that August afternoon.

All I have are the warm memories of our past, and the what if's...

Don't wait.