Growing up, and Holding on

My birthday was a week ago. It still feels strange turning 18. I’m officially an adult, but I’m still trying to wrap my head around what that really means. The day itself was fine, it felt like any other day, nothing extravagant. But the best part? My boyfriend, Carson, flew in from Utah. I hadn’t seen him in almost three months, and finally being in his arms again was the greatest gift I could’ve asked for. For my birthday, Carson surprised me with a trip, just the two of us to Six Flags. But it wasn’t just any trip. That place holds a lot of meaning for us. Back in August 2024, I went to Six Flags with my family. At the time, Carson and I were still just talking, and his feelings for me weren’t all that clear yet. I remember standing in the park when he called, telling me he was on his way over. I was caught off guard. At first, I was upset because it felt so unexpected and a bit overwhelming. But once he arrived and we spent time together, something shifted. I realized in that moment that this man truly loved me, and I was falling for him too. I always think back to that day. If it hadn’t happened the way it did, maybe we wouldn’t be where we are now. Just a few days later, on August 11, he officially asked me to be his girlfriend. And not long after, he left for Utah. So on Sunday, March 30th, to be back at Six Flags with him, just us, eight months later, felt surreal. This time, my family wasn’t there, but I felt at peace. I was with the man I love. Being in that same place again brought back so many memories, and the whole day, I couldn’t stop smiling. We arrived right as the park opened and made our way to the back first, thinking everyone would be crowding the front. It ended up being true, we got on almost every ride back there without long waits. But by the time we reached the front, the lines had started to have long wait times. We had fast passes but to wait for the fast pass to be ready ranged from 45 minutes to 2 hours long, that didn’t even include the time we had to wait when we got to the ride’s line and how long we’d have to wait in that. The weather was way more bearable than it had been in August. Back then, it was scorching, I’m not used to hot weather, and it really got to me. This time, it was slightly warm with a nice breeze, just perfect. The rides were thrilling, sure, but what made the day truly special was seeing Carson so happy. His smile, his excitement, the joy in his eyes, it made my heart feel so full. That day didn’t just feel like a birthday gift. It was a beautiful reminder of how far we’ve come and how lucky I am to love and be loved by someone like him. When the day came to an end, it felt bittersweet. We had such an incredible time together, and it felt like it just flew by. But I was so grateful we got to relive being at that special place again, just the two of us. That night, I stayed up until midnight to celebrate officially turning 18. I didn’t feel all that different, but I felt proud, I made it another year, and that’s something to be thankful for.