Ben Nelson was my first love. He was someone I fell in love with when I was a teenager. We became friends via online penpals. The “letters” stopped. But it started a three year friendship.

I secretly fell in love with him. I never told him how I felt, partly because of my adolecent shyness, in fear of how he would react.

After we graduated highschool we met face to face. I was so nervous that I hardly spoke. We enjoyed an afternoon of hanging out at the mall and playing pool. We went our separate ways after that.

Ben went to school and followed his persuits for a career. I had not chosen that same path. I chose to work. And so I did. I met someone and we began to date.

I still loved Ben, my feelings for him never changed. I followed my own path in life, never losing my feelings for Ben. My road in life took some twists and turns. Things didn’t work out as I planned.

Years later I find his photo on the internet. Everything comes back. Every feeling, every wish. Joy floods my heart. I miss him.