I remembered everything I lived. It was quite the journey, so long, tiring, stressful, annoying, malicious, painful —and many more complex adjectives. But, despite everything, I had no regrets.
I learned so much, I experienced a lot, and thus, I matured, at least, I hope. Thinking back on my school days at all the schools I attended before Maple Park, I preferred everything I experienced there a thousand times over. Of course I had doubts, I suffered, I questioned my own personality and morality, I tried to please everyone so much that I almost forgot my own individuality.
However, now that I felt the wind against my face, as I ran towards the horizon, in the most cliché way I could, watching everything around me, feeling that everything was worth it, I could only think of one thing: I was happy. Destiny showed mercy and it'll let me enjoy my life… In your face, Murphy! Your pessimistic law would not harm me more!
Why?
Because I achieved the impossible, because I got a Good Ending. The happy ending to this chapter of my story. A planned story, which I later tried to abandon. But that helped me mature.
I thought of what love was always to me: "Entering into each other's lives to help and support one another in becoming better people". It was the one thing that I thought I got right, especially when I saw that girl's hair in front of me swaying in the wind. The scent of her shampoo flooded my nose; I like it even more now. Her hands feel smoother now; her eyes, brighter; her personality, more charming. I couldn't believe that these details were irrelevant for me at the beginning.
I was quite the fool back then.
But, in my defense, it was not as if I really understood the true meaning of love, even if I thought I did. If only I had known that romantic stories that I liked so much, were just mere fiction and lies about the idealization of "perfect love" destiny, the other half…
Maybe all that works to a certain extent, but then I realized that there will always be negative aspects, both in a relationship and in oneself, and that in order to achieve all the wonderful things that romantic stories promise, you have to improve as a person; know how to handle different situations, and, above all, understand that not everything will be wonderful, but rather a constant challenge. I had to learn that the hard way.
I kept running, smiling, while the girl in front of me laughed and hurried me.
—Come on, darling! Faster!
My legs stopped at that instant; I almost fell to the ground. I was petrified. My heart was beating so fast that I thought it would explode. She noticed that I had stopped and saw me, a little blush on her cheeks that she tried to cover with her hair.
—¿Darling?
I asked, surprised. It was the first time since we started dating that she called me so. My girlfriend hid even more, trying to hide the shame that was consuming her completely.
—Well… —she said, clearing her throat—. I think I just blurted that out, but… you know, can I call you that, d-darling?
I got closer to her and took her hands, holding them softly, entwining my fingers around hers.
—Of course you can! —I said happily—. You can call me whatever you want! But you must face the consequences then: Be prepared to get tons of affection, my love.
She blushed so hard, as if someone had spilled a can of red paint all over her face. She got away.
—Ah! No! I'm not ready —she said as she ran.
I smiled for a second, then I started chasing her. Some things don't change, after all.