ᴀʟᴛᴇʀɴᴀᴛɪᴠᴇʟʏ ᴛɪᴛʟᴇᴅ: ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏᴜʀɴᴇʏ

Aurora remembered her first day in her new school in New York. She remembered walking down the corridors of the small high school, sticking out like a sore thumb with her prominent red hair and thick Irish accent. She also recalled exactly how sickened she felt when a couple were lingering in front of her locker and the murderous look they'd given when she'd cleared her throat to get their attention. That's when she'd first met Graham Hunter.

They met again in her fencing class where they'd been paired up to train together. Aurora was determined to be the best at the class, but Graham kept getting in her way, one upping her each time they trained, but one day she achieved her goal and beaten him. That was the day Graham and Aurora became sworn enemies. After that day, both competed in everything.

In her junior year, Aurora had signed up to become a peer mentor, to try and help new students like herself settle in. Unfortunately, her teacher paired her up with Graham after his abysmal test results. Both despised this arrangement but managed to come up with a truce that ensured that they didn't spontaneously combust in the presence of the other.

Over time, they managed to work past their differences and a tentative friendship forming, starting with having coffee together at the nearby diner and eventually leading to going to a Knicks game together. When her friends found out about their day out together, they began teasing Aurora, but she ignored them and the not-so-platonic feelings she began to get for the brown-haired boy. Aurora remembered how she'd felt like she'd swallowed a chrysalis whole whenever she was around him but kept her feelings to herself.

Aurora remembered how she felt when he'd asked her to senior prom, how she'd stopped everything she was doing stared at him agape as the boy grinned at her leaning against the neighbouring locker. He'd asked so casually and for a few seconds she thought she'd misheard. She remembered everything about that night: how awkward she'd felt standing beside Graham in the off-shoulder lilac chiffon gown, as her mother took pictures, how strange it felt to be slow dancing with him, as she'd looked up into his green eyes, hoping her own didn't betray her nervousness. She'd finally told him how she felt that night and felt relieved of a burden. Graham's smile had grown, and he'd twirled her around into his arm, and then moved a little closer to her.

As the night ended however, both knew that they had little to no time as graduation day approached. They promised to keep in touch after, but both had different dreams and interests and grew apart. Although, she made new friends and had new relationships through university, she never forgot Graham. Losing touch with him had been one of her greatest regrets.

Aurora remembered the shock she felt when she saw Graham in the waiting room of the Google branch in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she worked. His hair was shorter and no longer flopped over his face, his green eyes widened when they'd rested on her. After his interview, he'd invited her to lunch to catchup She remembered the slight awkwardness that hung in the air, consuming any silences.

Aurora remembered how nervous he'd been when he'd asked her out on a proper date and how one date had led to many others. She remembered the day he carried her over the threshold of their new apartment, the night he'd bent down on one knee with the same goofy grin on his face, as the one he had when he'd asked her to prom.

Aurora remembered how her hand had trembled as the church doors opened. She had walked out slowly and steadily, aware of all the eyes on her as she walked down her arm linked with her fathers as the bridal chorus played on the organ. She had smiled when her eyes met with Graham's and her smile never faltered when she finally stood in front of him.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she looked at the photos now, trying to recall the memories that were once branded in her mind. Her red hair had faded to grey now. She looked away from the photo when she felt a hand on her own and her eyes met with familiar green that she hopes to remember forever.