The First Time I Saw You

I’ve never seen the movie “Big Fish”, but there is a scene in it that I have rewatched a million times. The main character sees his wife for the first time at a circus and the narrator says, “They say when you see the love of your life, time stops.” It gave me chills the first time I watched it; he makes his way through the frozen crowd of performers, pushing floating popcorn out of his way, completely enamored by this girl. I always wanted to feel like that, to have a moment like that.

About a year ago, I finally did. I stepped out of the plane tunnel and into the terminal, following the signs down to the baggage claim. I knew you were down there. I knew you could be anywhere. I had waited five months to finally meet you; I had never done anything like this before and yet here I was, flown across the country in a daisy print dress and my big combat boots, hoping you would be able to find me. I knew you were somewhere near the door, as I approached it, my heartbeat was louder than anything else in that airport. But there was no one there, not that I recognized. I scanned the area for your face but also felt a little nervous to find it. I think I was looking for your hair actually, or your own boots, or something else.

But suddenly, from around a sim card machine in the corner of my eye, I saw movement toward me. I turned and I instantly knew it was you. My eyes were instantly locked with yours and I was astonished at how blue they were in person. As the memory sticks out now, that is still the most prominent part about it in my head. Your hair was tied back, I must have forgotten how you sometimes are shy about having it down in public. I was so used to seeing it down. Time really did stop, everything was quiet in that moment, and Big Fish was right.

There wasn’t a moment of hesitation before I scurried toward you, and into your embrace. You felt so good in that moment, you felt so right. A perfect fit. You swayed a little from side to side as you held me and I can still feel that, and almost see it in a way, when I think about those few seconds. The only thing I could hear was your heartbeat now, practically in sync with mine. I had never experienced anything so magical in my life, and I wouldn’t give that memory up for the world. I believe that right then and there, the inkling I had been sitting on for months was right: I had finally found the one.

Submitted May 10, 2019 at 06:46AM

I’ve never seen the movie “Big Fish”, but there is a scene in it that I have rewatched a million times. The main character sees his wife for the first time at a circus and the narrator says, “They say when you see the love of your life, time stops.” It gave me chills the first time I watched it; he makes his way through the frozen crowd of performers, pushing floating popcorn out of his way, completely enamored by this girl. I always wanted to feel like that, to have a moment like that.About a year ago, I finally did. I stepped out of the plane tunnel and into the terminal, following the signs down to the baggage claim. I knew you were down there. I knew you could be anywhere. I had waited five months to finally meet you; I had never done anything like this before and yet here I was, flown across the country in a daisy print dress and my big combat boots, hoping you would be able to find me. I knew you were somewhere near the door, as I approached it, my heartbeat was louder than anything else in that airport. But there was no one there, not that I recognized. I scanned the area for your face but also felt a little nervous to find it. I think I was looking for your hair actually, or your own boots, or something else.But suddenly, from around a sim card machine in the corner of my eye, I saw movement toward me. I turned and I instantly knew it was you. My eyes were instantly locked with yours and I was astonished at how blue they were in person. As the memory sticks out now, that is still the most prominent part about it in my head. Your hair was tied back, I must have forgotten how you sometimes are shy about having it down in public. I was so used to seeing it down. Time really did stop, everything was quiet in that moment, and Big Fish was right.There wasn’t a moment of hesitation before I scurried toward you, and into your embrace. You felt so good in that moment, you felt so right. A perfect fit. You swayed a little from side to side as you held me and I can still feel that, and almost see it in a way, when I think about those few seconds. The only thing I could hear was your heartbeat now, practically in sync with mine. I had never experienced anything so magical in my life, and I wouldn’t give that memory up for the world. I believe that right then and there, the inkling I had been sitting on for months was right: I had finally found the one.