My last words came out softly as the syllables caught in my throat. Applause reverberated through the grand ballroom and I closed my eyes for a few moments absorbing everything. When I opened them a grin crossed my lips. But my smile wasn’t for the strangers who surrounded me or even for my friends before me. It was for the red-headed girl in the back of the room whose gaze kept flickering over mine.

As I exited the stage holding tightly to the award in my hand, I took the steps one at a time and kept my eyes focused on her. With each step I took I couldn’t help but notice that her eyes were locked on mine . . . green to blue. In them I saw a reflection from so long ago, of a memory I’ve never forgotten. And although I wasn’t available to her the first time we met, and I wasn’t in the right mind space the second time we met, I think everything is different now. And I can honestly say . . . the future has never looked brighter.