Believe In The Magic Of Moments

Helen: My First Crush, My First Real Connection, And The First Person Who Made Me Believe In The Magic Of Moments

A First Glance That Changed My World

It was the first day of high school, and I was filled with the nervous excitement of a teenager who was stepping into a new chapter of his life. The hallway buzzed with lots of chatter, laughter, and some occasional sound of lockers slamming. Among the endless sea of faces, one stood out—a girl with a charming smile, so radiant that it seemed to brighten the entire school corridor. She had beautiful curly brown hair that cascaded over her shoulders and blue eyes that sparkled with a mix of curiosity and kindness. I didn’t know her name then, but something in her smile made my heart skip many a beat. That’s when it hit me in the chest - I had the first crush of my life.

No Courage to Say Hello

For weeks, I admired her charm from afar, too introvert to strike up a conversation. I’d sit at the back of the classroom, pretending to focus on the teacher while sneaking quick glances at her. She had a cute way of tilting her head slightly when she was deeply engrossed in thought, and it always fascinated me. My friends duly noticed my sudden interest in the subtle art of "casual observation" and teased me on this issue endlessly.

One day, fate—or perhaps by pure chance—an opportunity was offered to me. We were assigned to the same group for a chemistry project. My palms were unusually sweaty, my voice quite shaky, but somehow, I blurted a simple, “Hi, I’m Ess.” She smiled and replied, “Hi, I’m Helen.” Her voice was soft yet very confident, and in that moment onwards, her name became the most beautiful word I had ever heard.

Small Moments, Big Memories

Working on the project gave me a reason to spend quality time with her, and each interaction with her felt like a small victory. Helen was very compassionate, funny, and had a special knack of making everyone around her feel at ease. We bonded well over shared jokes, late-night project sessions, and our mutual dislike for lizards. I still fondly remember how she scrunched her nose in mock horror when the target specimen was seen lurking somewhere.

One afternoon, while perusing through some books at the library, she asked me about my favourite music. I hesitated, embarrassed to admit my love for old-school rock bands. When I finally did, she completely surprised me by saying her dad had introduced her to the same bands, and she loved them too. It felt like we’d discovered a secret oasis where we both belonged.

Every moment with her felt like a surreal scene from a movie. I remember the way her eyes lit up when she talked about her favourite book, Pride and Prejudice, and how she tucked her hair behind her ear when she was focused. I even started looking forward to the class of history—a subject I’d never cared for—just for that chance to sit next to her.

The School Dance

The school dance event was approaching, and my friends were insistent that I ask her to go with me. The thought of it terrified me, but the idea of not asking her was even worse. After rehearsing my words a few hundred times, I finally worked up some mental courage to approach her after class hours.

“Hey, Helen,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “I was wondering… if you would like to go to the school dance with me.”

Her eyes widened in mock surprise, and for a moment, I thought I had ruined everything. Then, she smiled—an honest, genuine smile—and said, “I’d love to.” I’ll never forget how my heart soared high up in the sky at that moment.

A Night to Remember

The night of the dance felt surreal. She looked stunning in a simple yet elegant dress, her smile brighter than ever before. My mom insisted that I take a hundred pictures of me in my suit, but none of that really mattered when I saw Helen waiting at the entrance of the school.

We danced quite awkwardly at first, laughing at our two left feet, but eventually, we found our inner rhythm. Under the dim lights of the room, surrounded by few classmates and cheesy old pop songs, I realized something very profound: this wasn’t just a crush. It was really the start of something special, even if I didn’t fully understand it at that moment.

The End of a Beginning

As high school rumbled on, Helen and I grew closer. We didn’t end up being just high school sweethearts or staying together forever, but our friendship remained phenomenally strong till she moved out to distant lands with her family. She was my first crush, my first real connection, and the first person who made me believe in the magic of moments.

Looking back at those times, I’m eternally grateful for the beautiful moments I found with Helen and the endless memories we created. Helen taught me that life is full of beautiful surprises and that sometimes, all it takes is a simple vision and a plain hello to change everything.