Holding Onto His Heart
There was a certain magic about my first love. It wasn't a fairytale relationship, but it was a love that I will never forget.
I had been contacted by a dating agency a few days before Independence Day. It was a small agency for the disabled. Sitting on our blue couch, I listened intently to the matchmaker's news, eager to hear that she had found me a match. Cheerfully, she told me she found someone for me. He lived in a different state, which was about an hour and a half away. I was a little hesitant about getting involved, because it would require so much traveling. And since I didn't drive, it would be difficult for me to visit him. But I was interested, definitely interested.
I'll never forget our first telephone conversation. Justin was rather quiet, and he acted strangely aloof about meeting me (his name is changed to keep him anonymous). He spoke of his love for sports and playing tennis. His voice quivered as he spoke, and I wasn't sure if he was interested or not. I wasn't the gutsy type, but I wanted to know. So I boldly suggested a date. He agreed.
The date was set. We would go to a restaurant and see a movie shortly after. Justin, like me, was brain injured. He walked with a limp, and had no use of his right hand. I had no use of my left hand. We'd had brain injuries which were similar to one another. And we shared an enthusiastic love for dancing.
Mom and Dad drove me to the train station one hot, summer day. I was so nervous. When we arrived, there stood Justin in a vivid blue shirt and beige shorts. He was cute. I walked up to him. "Are you Justin?" I asked meekly.
"Yes. Are you Shannon?" he asked.
"Yes." I smiled.
When Justin and I met, I was a shy teenager, incapable of expressing my true feelings. But this was about to change. After the movie, Justin and I spent some time at my house. I gazed into his eyes. He looked back at me and smiled. We exchanged glances a few times, and he finally asked the question dancing in my mind, "Do you want to kiss me?"
Despite the age difference, we were in love. There were some people who questioned our relationship. "You like older men, huh?" my friends would snicker. I'd look at them, and smile humbly.
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