Cherish

 Back in college I knew this guy who was a friend of a friend. One night a group of us got together, went to the boardwalk and had a really good time. He gave me a piggyback ride running wild with me down the beach. I had had a bad breakup with someone that I was in love with and it was wonderful feeling pretty again and having the attention of this good looking guy. The four of us stayed up all night at my friend's condo and laughed and joked around. While the other two friends fell asleep, he and I sneaked out hand and hand and went down to the beach to watch the sunrise. I leaned my back against his chest and he held me. It all felt really natural. And we just talked about life and love and the universe. He was deeply philosophical without being an asshole about it. He was my cup of tea. We just felt--connected-- to one another. It never turned into anything more than that evening and watching that sunrise; we never even kissed. Several years later while I was happily married he was a muse in a novel I was working on. He and I only had that moment in time, yet he and I have this indelible memory, a memory I never had with anyone else. Don't get me wrong my ex and I went to the beach and we have a million memories . Even the guy that broke my heart in college gave me a lot of great memories. But-- this guy-- who wasn't even my friend shared a moment with me unlike any other and it's still with me. I saw his profile picture recently and honestly he looks terrific. He looks like he did back then just a little older but still just as trim. I seriously considered reaching out to him because his status says he's single. But I've decided against it because I had sent him a friend request several years ago and he never responded. So maybe that moment didn't mean as much to him as it did to me. Besides, I'm Christian now and would like very much to find someone like minded and I don't know where he stands on religion and faith. Plus being a Christian I want to wait on God and his timing and his best. If this guy is for me, we'll run into each other or he'll find me. It won't be me finding him. But for now I can reflect on that memory, cherish it, and wallow in its goodness and purity. It was a little bit of magic. And if he's not the one, I have to trust God to give me more magical moments in my life, but with the person I'm meant to be with.

                                                           

             Olivia McGuire