If He Had Been with Me

by Laura Nowlin

“Try to marry your first love. For the rest of your life, no one will ever treat you as well.”

I try to feel as if I have accomplished something, but all I feel is that I lived through a few years of my life; getting through high school was just what I did on the side.

He doesn’t laugh at me for ordering a hamburger and fries for breakfast.

“But if I have the chance to be with you—God, Autumn, you’re the ideal I’ve judged every other girl by my whole life,”