Young Love

I walked casually through Times Square, minding my own business. It was not the hundreds of people surrounding me crowding the streets that caught my eye, but instead two people that were not even part of the chaotic, crazed scene. I came to a stand-still, allowing them to steal my focus.

It was a boy and girl in their teens, sitting on a ledge next to a big column in the plaza. They seemed to be only focused on each other, like they did not even care about the busy hordes of people surrounding them. They looked happy, and loving. The girl sat on the boy’s left, her right leg across his lap and her other leg resting on the ground. Her arm was around his waist, and her stance expressed that she was at ease, and content. Curiosity filled her eyes, as if she wanted to know more about how he felt or what exactly to do in that moment; but she also remained cautious. She looked to be enthralled and sometimes giddy, as a girl who is in love would be.

The boy sat with his arms over her leg that rested upon him, surrounding her as he showed that he was truly protective of her, but lovingly protective. He was careful with his movements, and gentle with her. His warm smile was welcoming, and affectionate. As he gazed at her, entranced, I could tell that he wanted time to stop so that the moment could last.

Both were mesmerized and passionate, and both caring for one another. Words cannot explain the way they looked at each other. I couldn’t seem to stop watching the two of them. How committed for the moment they were…how relaxed, and in love…made me ache for someone to feel that way about me. Because even though they were young, and still had so many decisions they would have to face later in life, I could sense that they both adored each other; and that they were both willing to make sacrifices for one another. I don’t know how long they’d known each other, but it didn’t seem to matter. What mattered was that they were deeply in love, and it put a smile on my face and gave me an understanding of which I had not yet been capable.

I continued on, finally. But I would never forget what I had seen in the plaza that day…and I’d wait for that sort of thing to happen to me. Because now…I really know that such a love exists.