A Part of Me

Him

You know how the wise teachers of this world always say never to look back, only forward?

It's funny, I always thought that was a wise phrase to remember, so you can move through life without burdens. I get it, truly. It makes a lot of sense to me.

But in this instance, I'm choosing to break the status quo, choosing to share with you this story of my life, because there's something important that everyone can take from this.

"Why," you, the reader, may be asking yourself, "is his story so much different?"

Well, I will answer that. In time. So sit back, relax, get comfy. This story is not like one you've ever opened before,

and it starts

and ends,

with a girl. But not just any girl.

A girl that would change my life forever. She was different and unique, and her difference would open my eyes to something irrevocably life-changing, something a part of me as it was a part of her.

As she would become a part of me.

I was a sophomore in college, attending the biggest university that Colorado could offer. Majoring in Journalism and minoring in 'stupid college frat kid', CU was my playground. I had friends from every corner of the college, and attended more clubs than the Buffaloes' star quarterback had winning games last season (which compared to clubs, was a lot).

I met girls of all different shapes, sizes, and colors, from all walks of life, but there was this one girl in particular that I couldn't seem to shake.

The first time I met her was not really anything of importance. I had just left our second Quiz Bowl meeting of the year, which was held in the biggest room our library had to offer, with some of my buddies. Our jeers and laughter echoed through the bookshelves and got shushed several times by faculty and students alike.

When we finally made our way out of the double doors and onto the campus green, a small, petite girl, with a lanyard around her neck and a Psychology book as big as her backpack in her arms, ran right into me.

Her book fell with a loud 'BANG' onto the concrete, scaring my friends silent-which didn't happen that often.

"Oh my word, I am so sorry!" I profusely apologized, picking up the giant book and handing it back to her. She shook her head quickly, waving away my apology.

"It's fine." She said sternly, shoving past me and entering the library, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

I stood there in stunned silence, my mind still processing what just happened. As I had given her the book, I noticed with a quick glance the name on her ID card:

Rae McKinley.

"Ben!" Lincoln, my oldest and closest friend, shook me out of my reverie. "You comin', dude?"

"Yeah!" I hollered back, shoving my hands in my sweatshirt pocket as I turned to leave. I glanced back for a moment, shaking my head with a weird feeling in my stomach.

Little did I know that I'd run into her again,

but in a way I definitely did not see coming.