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FEBRUARY 28-DAY CHALLENGE
Day Four: Your first crush
She Was Everything I Wasn’t
He was older. Only by one year, but when you’re in the fifth grade, one level up symbolizes maturity. The fact he paid me any notice made me feel older, too.
I was popular in grade school. Internal butterflies fluttered regularly anytime a boy looked my way. And many boys did. Three, to be exact. But isn’t it human nature to want what we can’t have? I’m talking about that fourth boy I melted over — his name was Shawn.
He must have felt my adoration. I swooned when he spoke to me and held my hand in class, but there was a glitch. Her name was Shea. She was pretty and fashionable, and her name stood for fortunate. Unfortunately, Shawn hadn’t missed her charm. He held hands with her often, too. I wanted to feel special. But he gave me little choice. I could love him or leave him. Sharing him with her was my only option.
During my younger years, I loved dogs and hockey. I watched the latter, and I played it. The sport was in my blood. My uncles, brother, and I played ball hockey behind our duplex every weekend. I loved being included. But where I shone was on the all-girls floor hockey team at school. That’s where my team spirit was high, my passing was on point, and my goal-scoring was among the highest in the…