Tarnished Gold

The bff and I strolled through Nordstrom this past weekend, when it occurred to me that I needed to exchange my Juicy Bracelet that was unfortunately beginning to tarnish. The cashier informed me that I could either get a new bracelet or get cash back. As I begin to choose the new bracelet my bff said, "just get the money back." "It was a gift," I explained to her, "I can't just act like it doesn't mean anything." She informed me that she to had this bracelet which she stopped wearing all together, because all of them tarnished eventually no matter how many new ones she got. I stared a little longer at my tarnished gold bracelet,realizing I was holding onto something that wouldn't benefit me in the long run...just like the person who gave it to me.

It was the spring of 2004 and I had just completed my first semester as a freshman in college. I had been in a DRAMATIC long distance relationship and had just decided to cut the strings loose. He stressed me and that was something I didn't want or need in my life at the time. My friends and I decided to hit up a dorm room party one night on our campus and that was the first night I laid eyes on him. For the sake of privacy we can call him EJ. EJ was a junior at my university, a very tall dude, with a pretty smile who seemed to make everyone laugh. It was obvious to both of us the very first time we spoke that we had chemistry, real chemistry.

Four months later EJ and I were official, we spent every free minute we could with each other. He soon knew the majority of my friends and parents and vice versa. Although he wasn't the type I usually go for (nice) he made me laugh and put me first. He thought the most of me and treated me with so much respect, it was something I just wasn't used to, but I loved it and I was growing to love him.

By my junior year we were still together, but of course like any couple we had our bumps along the road. I knew he wasn't perfect, but he was damn near close to it and I couldn't have been happier with that. I thought he was happy to until my phone rang one early friday morning.

I looked at my clock to see that it was 7 a.m., and was prepared to fuss at him for waking me up until I heard her voice.

Me: Hello

Her: Hell-o

Me: Um, who is this?

Her: This is E.J's girlfriend

....click...

yea-my mouth dropped to. Stay tuned for part 2!