The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden hue over the sprawling fields as I stepped out of the house. The hum of adult chatter faded behind me, replaced by the gentle rustle of the breeze and the distant chirping of birds. My feet crunched against the gravel driveway, and I squinted against the sunlight, searching for something—anything—to pull me away from the monotony of Easter Sunday.That’s when I saw her.She stood with my best friend’s cousins, her laughter light and airy, like the petals of a flower caught in the wind. Her name was Marley, and though she was only fourteen, there was something about her that made the world around her seem to blur into the background. Her hair was a cascade of soft waves, catching the sunlight in a way that made it glow. Her eyes, wide and curious, darted around as if she were taking in every detail of the world around her.“Hey,” I said, my voice cracking slightly as I approached. She turned to me, her smile shy but warm.“Hi,” she replied, her voice soft and melodic.The others were already talking about heading out for a walk, and before I knew it, we were all stepping onto the dirt path that led away from the house. Marley walked beside me, her hands clasped behind her back, her steps light and deliberate. The others were ahead, their laughter carrying back to us, but here, in this moment, it felt like it was just the two of us.From up ahead, my friend’s cousin, Nicole, turned around, a mischievous grin on her face. “What’s with you two?” she teased, her eyes flicking between us.Marley’s cheeks flushed a deep shade of pink, and she quickly looked away. I felt my own face heat up, and I laughed nervously, trying to play it off.“Nothing,” I said, though my voice wavered slightly.Nicole rolled her eyes but didn’t press further, turning her attention back to the others. Marley and I glanced at each other, and for a moment, it felt like the world had stopped. Her eyes held a warmth that made my chest tighten, and I realized that I had never felt this way before.“She’s just messing around,” I said, trying to break the tension.Marley nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. “I know,” she said softly.We continued walking, the others pulling further ahead until they were almost out of sight. The sun was warm on my skin, and the air smelled faintly of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers. It felt like the perfect day, and I couldn’t help but feel like something important was about to happen.“Do you come here often?” Marley asked, breaking the silence.“Not really,” I admitted. “But my friend’s family has this Easter thing every year, so I kind of get dragged along.”She laughed, and the sound was like music to my ears. “Sounds like fun,” she said, her tone teasing.“It’s not bad,” I said, grinning. “Though it’s definitely better this year.”Her eyes met mine, and I saw a flicker of surprise in them before she looked away, her cheeks tinged with pink again.We walked for a while longer, the path winding through the fields and past a small stream. The others were nowhere to be seen now, and it felt like we were the only two people in the world. The silence between us was comfortable, but there was an undercurrent of something else—something that made my heart race and my palms sweat.“Do you believe in love at first sight?” I blurted out before I could stop myself.Marley turned to me, her eyes wide with surprise. “I… I don’t know,” she said slowly. “I don’t think I’ve ever thought about it before.”I nodded, feeling a little foolish for asking. But then she smiled, and it was so warm and genuine that I felt my nerves melt away.“Do you?” she asked, her voice soft.I hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “I think I might,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.Her eyes searched mine, and for a moment, it felt like she was looking right into my soul. Then she looked away, a small smile playing on her lips.“I think that’s beautiful,” she said softly.The sound of laughter broke the moment, and we turned to see the others waving at us from up ahead.“We should catch up,” Marley said, her voice tinged with regret.I nodded, though I didn’t want the moment to end. We quickened our pace, and as we walked, I couldn’t help but steal glances at her. She was beautiful in a way I couldn’t quite describe, and there was a part of me that dreaded the moment we’d have to say goodbye.When we finally reached the others, the sun was beginning to set, casting the sky in shades of orange and pink. The group decided to head back to the house, and as we walked, Marley fell into step beside me.“It was nice meeting you,” she said, her voice soft.“You too,” I replied, my heart aching at the thought of her leaving.When we reached the house, the others went inside, but Marley lingered for a moment, her eyes meeting mine.“Maybe we’ll see each other again,” she said, her tone hopeful.I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips. “I hope so. How about tomorrow morning before school in the city market place?" "Eight o'clock? " she asked. "Eight o'clock " I confirmed, feeling happier than ever before.eveShe smiled, and for a moment, it felt like the world was perfect. Then she turned and walked inside, leaving me standing there, my heart racing and my mind filled with thoughts of her.As I watched her disappear into the house, I realized that I had never felt this way before. There was something about her that made me feel alive, and I knew that I wanted to see her again—no matter what it took.The sun dipped below the horizon, and I took a deep breath, the cool evening air filling my lungs. The day had been perfect, but there was a part of me that knew it was only the beginning. Something had changed, and I couldn’t wait to see where it would lead.I turned and walked back toward the house of my friend's cousines, my footsteps slow and deliberate. As I reached the door, I glanced back one last time, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. But she was gone, and all that remained was the faint memory of her smile.I stepped inside, the warmth of the house wrapping around me like a blanket. The others were already in the living room, the sound of their laughter filling the air. But my mind was elsewhere, already thinking about the next time I might see Marley.“Hey,” my friend said, nudging me as I entered the room. “What’s with you? You’ve been quiet all day.”I shrugged, trying to play it cool. “Just thinking,” I said, my voice casual.He raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further, turning back to the others. I settled into a chair, my mind still reeling from the day’s events.Marley had only been in my life for a few hours, but already, I knew that she was someone special. And as I sat there, surrounded by the noise and chaos of the house, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation—a feeling that something incredible was just around the corner.The evening passed in a blur, and when it was time to leave, I found myself lingering by the door, hoping to catch one last glimpse of her. But she was nowhere to be found, and as I stepped outside, the cool night air hit me like a wave.I paused for a moment, my eyes scanning the horizon. The stars were beginning to appear, their light faint but steady against the darkening sky. And as I stood there, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of hope—a feeling that no matter what happened, Marley and I would find a way to see each other again.With a deep breath, I turned and walked toward the car, my heart pounding in my chest. The night was quiet, but my mind was anything but—filled with thoughts of her, and the possibilities that lay ahead.As I slid into the passenger seat, my friend turned to me, a knowing smile on his face. “So,” he said, his tone teasing. “What’s her name?”I hesitated for a moment, then smiled. “Marley,” I said, my voice soft.He raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything, turning his attention back to the road. I leaned back in my seat, my mind still racing. The night stretched out before us, and as we drove, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement—a feeling that this was only the beginning.Fortunately, Marley wasn’t wasn’t tied down by strict parents who locked her inside after school. So we saw each other every morning before classes and again in the afternoons. Saturdays belonged to us entirely, and were mostly spent at the youth club Eureka. We danced endlessly, her laughter lighting up the dim room, and talked about everything and nothing until the clock forced us apart.On Sundays, we found stolen moments. Her family and my best friend’s family organized outings to which yhe both of us were invited. I remember one trip to the provincial domain atv40 km distance, where we wandered away from the group and carved our initials into a tree. She stood back, admiring the mark we had left, and whispered, “Now this place will always be ours, and much like this heart and our initials will grow with the tree, so will our love.” I didn’t tell her then, but I had already decided she was my world.The spring was ours, but it wasn’t without its shadows. One morning, I stood watching her ride to school after our meeting on the market square. She rode up on her bike, her hair catching the early sunlight, and waved. But as she turned the corner toward her school, a truck roared past, its trailer too close to the curb. It clipped her shoulder, sending her wobbling dangerously. My heart stopped. For a moment, I thought she’d fall, but she steadied herself, one foot on the ground, and looked back at me. Even from a distance, I saw the shock in her eyes, the tears she refused to let fall. I wanted to run to her, to hold her and tell her it was okay, but before I could move, she was back on her bike, pedaling away as if nothing had happened. That image haunted me for weeks.By July, cracks began to form in our perfect world. The summer holidays had started and we met daily at the corner of her street, Close to her home ... Too close. Marley’s parents had caught wind of our meetings, and their fear and disapproval suddenly loomed over us like a storm cloud. “They think we’re too young,” she told me one evening during a concert in her neighborhood. Her voice was barely audible over the music, but her words hit me like a punch. “If we keep this up, they’ll stop me from going to the youth club. They’ll keep me home.”I didn’t argue. What could I say? Her tears glistened in the dim light of the concert tent, and I realized how unfair the world was. The love we had, pure and simple, was too much for the adults around us to understand. I left nearly immediately, The singer's voice echoing behind me: “It can’t be, I haven’t lost your love.”Years passed, and life moved on. I threw myself into new relationships, without ever forgetting the girl who had once been my everything. Every so often, I’d even find myself comparing others to her—the way her laugh had lit up a room, the way her hand had felt in mine as we walked through the fields.One sunny afternoon, 20 odd years later, I saw her again. She was sitting with her husband on a terrace, sipping coffee as the city buzzed around us. My heart raced as I approached her, memories flooding back. “Hi, Marley,” I said, my voice trembling. She looked up, her face as gentle as I remembered, but her eyes held no recognition. “Pardon me, sir,” she said politely, “but I don’t know you.”I stood there for a moment, stunned. The girl who had once been my whole world said she no longer even remembered me. As I walked away, I realized something: the love we had was real, even if she had kept it hidden for her husband and, by now, it existed only in my memory. But that was enough. Marley had contributed to shaping me, making&nbsp; me who I was. She would always be a part of my story, even if I was no longer a part of hers.

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden hue over the sprawling fields as I stepped out of the house. The hum of adult chatter faded behind me, replaced by the gentle rustle of the breeze and the distant chirping of birds. My feet crunched against the gravel driveway, and I squinted against the sunlight, searching for something—anything—to pull me away from the monotony of Easter Sunday.

That’s when I saw her.

She stood with my best friend’s cousins, her laughter light and airy, like the petals of a flower caught in the wind. Her name was Marley, and though she was only fourteen, there was something about her that made the world around her seem to blur into the background. Her hair was a cascade of soft waves, catching the sunlight in a way that made it glow. Her eyes, wide and curious, darted around as if she were taking in every detail of the world around her.

“Hey,” I said, my voice cracking slightly as I approached. She turned to me, her smile shy but warm.

“Hi,” she replied, her voice soft and melodic.

The others were already talking about heading out for a walk, and before I knew it, we were all stepping onto the dirt path that led away from the house. Marley walked beside me, her hands clasped behind her back, her steps light and deliberate. The others were ahead, their laughter carrying back to us, but here, in this moment, it felt like it was just the two of us.

From up ahead, my friend’s cousin, Nicole, turned around, a mischievous grin on her face. “What’s with you two?” she teased, her eyes flicking between us.

Marley’s cheeks flushed a deep shade of pink, and she quickly looked away. I felt my own face heat up, and I laughed nervously, trying to play it off.

“Nothing,” I said, though my voice wavered slightly.

Nicole rolled her eyes but didn’t press further, turning her attention back to the others. Marley and I glanced at each other, and for a moment, it felt like the world had stopped. Her eyes held a warmth that made my chest tighten, and I realized that I had never felt this way before.

“She’s just messing around,” I said, trying to break the tension.

Marley nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. “I know,” she said softly.

We continued walking, the others pulling further ahead until they were almost out of sight. The sun was warm on my skin, and the air smelled faintly of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers. It felt like the perfect day, and I couldn’t help but feel like something important was about to happen.

“Do you come here often?” Marley asked, breaking the silence.

“Not really,” I admitted. “But my friend’s family has this Easter thing every year, so I kind of get dragged along.”

She laughed, and the sound was like music to my ears. “Sounds like fun,” she said, her tone teasing.

“It’s not bad,” I said, grinning. “Though it’s definitely better this year.”

Her eyes met mine, and I saw a flicker of surprise in them before she looked away, her cheeks tinged with pink again.

We walked for a while longer, the path winding through the fields and past a small stream. The others were nowhere to be seen now, and it felt like we were the only two people in the world. The silence between us was comfortable, but there was an undercurrent of something else—something that made my heart race and my palms sweat.

“Do you believe in love at first sight?” I blurted out before I could stop myself.

Marley turned to me, her eyes wide with surprise. “I… I don’t know,” she said slowly. “I don’t think I’ve ever thought about it before.”

I nodded, feeling a little foolish for asking. But then she smiled, and it was so warm and genuine that I felt my nerves melt away.

“Do you?” she asked, her voice soft.

I hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “I think I might,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Her eyes searched mine, and for a moment, it felt like she was looking right into my soul. Then she looked away, a small smile playing on her lips.

“I think that’s beautiful,” she said softly.

The sound of laughter broke the moment, and we turned to see the others waving at us from up ahead.

“We should catch up,” Marley said, her voice tinged with regret.

I nodded, though I didn’t want the moment to end. We quickened our pace, and as we walked, I couldn’t help but steal glances at her. She was beautiful in a way I couldn’t quite describe, and there was a part of me that dreaded the moment we’d have to say goodbye.

When we finally reached the others, the sun was beginning to set, casting the sky in shades of orange and pink. The group decided to head back to the house, and as we walked, Marley fell into step beside me.

“It was nice meeting you,” she said, her voice soft.

“You too,” I replied, my heart aching at the thought of her leaving.

When we reached the house, the others went inside, but Marley lingered for a moment, her eyes meeting mine.

“Maybe we’ll see each other again,” she said, her tone hopeful.

I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips. “I hope so.  How about tomorrow morning before school in the city market place?" "Eight o'clock? " she asked.  "Eight o'clock " I confirmed, feeling happier than ever before.eve

She smiled, and for a moment, it felt like the world was perfect. Then she turned and walked inside, leaving me standing there, my heart racing and my mind filled with thoughts of her.

As I watched her disappear into the house, I realized that I had never felt this way before. There was something about her that made me feel alive, and I knew that I wanted to see her again—no matter what it took.

The sun dipped below the horizon, and I took a deep breath, the cool evening air filling my lungs. The day had been perfect, but there was a part of me that knew it was only the beginning. Something had changed, and I couldn’t wait to see where it would lead.

I turned and walked back toward the house of my friend's cousines, my footsteps slow and deliberate. As I reached the door, I glanced back one last time, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. But she was gone, and all that remained was the faint memory of her smile.

I stepped inside, the warmth of the house wrapping around me like a blanket. The others were already in the living room, the sound of their laughter filling the air. But my mind was elsewhere, already thinking about the next time I might see Marley.

“Hey,” my friend said, nudging me as I entered the room. “What’s with you? You’ve been quiet all day.”

I shrugged, trying to play it cool. “Just thinking,” I said, my voice casual.

He raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further, turning back to the others. I settled into a chair, my mind still reeling from the day’s events.

Marley had only been in my life for a few hours, but already, I knew that she was someone special. And as I sat there, surrounded by the noise and chaos of the house, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation—a feeling that something incredible was just around the corner.

The evening passed in a blur, and when it was time to leave, I found myself lingering by the door, hoping to catch one last glimpse of her. But she was nowhere to be found, and as I stepped outside, the cool night air hit me like a wave.

I paused for a moment, my eyes scanning the horizon. The stars were beginning to appear, their light faint but steady against the darkening sky. And as I stood there, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of hope—a feeling that no matter what happened, Marley and I would find a way to see each other again.

With a deep breath, I turned and walked toward the car, my heart pounding in my chest. The night was quiet, but my mind was anything but—filled with thoughts of her, and the possibilities that lay ahead.

As I slid into the passenger seat, my friend turned to me, a knowing smile on his face. “So,” he said, his tone teasing. “What’s her name?”

I hesitated for a moment, then smiled. “Marley,” I said, my voice soft.

He raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything, turning his attention back to the road. I leaned back in my seat, my mind still racing. The night stretched out before us, and as we drove, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement—a feeling that this was only the beginning.

Fortunately, Marley wasn’t wasn’t tied down by strict parents who locked her inside after school. So we saw each other every morning before classes and again in the afternoons. Saturdays belonged to us entirely, and were mostly spent at the youth club Eureka. We danced endlessly, her laughter lighting up the dim room, and talked about everything and nothing until the clock forced us apart.

On Sundays, we found stolen moments. Her family and my best friend’s family organized outings to which yhe both of us were invited. I remember one trip to the provincial domain atv40 km distance, where we wandered away from the group and carved our initials into a tree. She stood back, admiring the mark we had left, and whispered, “Now this place will always be ours, and much like this heart and our initials will grow with the tree, so will our love.” I didn’t tell her then, but I had already decided she was my world.

The spring was ours, but it wasn’t without its shadows. One morning, I stood watching her ride to school after our meeting on the market square. She rode up on her bike, her hair catching the early sunlight, and waved. But as she turned the corner toward her school, a truck roared past, its trailer too close to the curb. It clipped her shoulder, sending her wobbling dangerously. My heart stopped. For a moment, I thought she’d fall, but she steadied herself, one foot on the ground, and looked back at me. Even from a distance, I saw the shock in her eyes, the tears she refused to let fall. I wanted to run to her, to hold her and tell her it was okay, but before I could move, she was back on her bike, pedaling away as if nothing had happened. That image haunted me for weeks.

By July, cracks began to form in our perfect world. The summer holidays had started and we met daily at the corner of her street, Close to her home ... Too close.  Marley’s parents had caught wind of our meetings, and their fear and disapproval suddenly loomed over us like a storm cloud. “They think we’re too young,” she told me one evening during a concert in her neighborhood. Her voice was barely audible over the music, but her words hit me like a punch. “If we keep this up, they’ll stop me from going to the youth club. They’ll keep me home.”

I didn’t argue. What could I say? Her tears glistened in the dim light of the concert tent, and I realized how unfair the world was. The love we had, pure and simple, was too much for the adults around us to understand. I left nearly immediately, The singer's voice echoing behind me: “It can’t be, I haven’t lost your love.”

Years passed, and life moved on. I threw myself into new relationships, without ever forgetting the girl who had once been my everything. Every so often, I’d even find myself comparing others to her—the way her laugh had lit up a room, the way her hand had felt in mine as we walked through the fields.

One sunny afternoon, 20 odd years later, I saw her again. She was sitting with her husband on a terrace, sipping coffee as the city buzzed around us. My heart raced as I approached her, memories flooding back. “Hi, Marley,” I said, my voice trembling. She looked up, her face as gentle as I remembered, but her eyes held no recognition. “Pardon me, sir,” she said politely, “but I don’t know you.”

I stood there for a moment, stunned. The girl who had once been my whole world  said she no longer even remembered me. As I walked away, I realized something: the love we had was real, even if she had kept it hidden for her husband and, by now, it existed only in my memory. But that was enough. Marley had contributed to shaping me, making  me who I was. She would always be a part of my story, even if I was no longer a part of hers.

A tender coming-of-age tale where a young man and girl discover the intoxicating power of first love during a spring filled with shared moments and secrets. Their bond deepens through stolen moments amidst the fields, youth club dances, and family outings, but their young love is tested by parental disapproval and the harsh realities of growing up.

Love is love, Even though 20 years later, she said she did not remember me ...

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