I was searching through my old laptop and came upon a narrative essay I had written during my junior year of high school. It’s been nearly four years since then. Time doesn’t stop for anyone.

The essay was about the day my baby cousin was born. Reading it instantly transported me back:

“They say happiness is a choice, which I agree with. But I also believe happiness has a way of finding you; sometimes when you least expect it, or when you most need it. Happiness can be found in a ‘something’, or in a ‘someone”. I found my happiness in a boy.

“It was a rainy Wednesday, and I had chosen to wear a blue sweater that hung loosely from my sides and swayed as I walked. The previous night I had dreamt my aunt and uncle had come over to introduce their newborn baby to the family, who for some reason had bright blue eyes, the same color as my sweater. To my surprise, later that morning my aunt would go into labor. I went about my day chattier than ever, saying ‘hi’ to as many people I recognized in the hall. It was April 17, 2013, my freshman year of high school, and I couldn’t yet see how that day was going to change just about everything in my life.

“Seventh period arrived and I received the text I had been anticipating all day: ‘He’s here!’ I shook my friend’s shoulder, prompting her to turn around and read the text illuminating my blue-covered phone. She in return gave me a weak smile and nod, and as I glanced around the room, I noticed just how gloomy and sapped of energy everyone else was. I looked out the window, also noticing the sky was an ugly, menacing gray with fat drops of rain starting to fall. But it still wasn’t enough to ruin my mood. A day I would have normally been irritated with or tired of, was suddenly turned into the brightest day all year; I couldn’t remember the last time I was as excited.

“The rest of seventh and eighth period took their sweet time to finish. The second the bell rang, I ran down the stairs and out the building, not aware I was getting drenched from the rain. Jumping into the car, I asked my mom if the baby was born, simply looking for a reassurance it was all real. ‘Yes,’ she replied, glancing back at me, ‘…and his name is Adrian.’

“There's constant noise throughout the house now, but it’s comforting. The way he repeats every word he hears; or the way he knocks on my door, yelling my name so I can come out and play with him; or the way he runs around the house for minutes straight, all echo and bounce off each wall. I look forward to coming home, seeing him sitting in front of the television eating his meal and watching cartoons.”

Come next month, it will be 5 years since this little boy was born.

He’s taller now and speaks two languages, English and Spanish, fluently. He has gone through several phases from cars and dinosaurs to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Star Wars.

He would wear a superhero cape on the back of his t-shirts then flex and show off his ‘muscles’.

It’s rare now for him to let me pick him up and carry him. When my sister and I call him cute he yells back “I’m not cute!”.

Last summer, he thought a girl in his class was really pretty. There’s a picture of them at a birthday party and he is sitting down on the stairs looking up at her as she smiles at the camera. Somehow she had managed to steal his little heart. Luckily, she is long gone now and in kindergarten!

But one day, when he’s older, taller and stronger, he will come home with a girl by his side. He will tell us she’s the one and will leave and follow her to wherever their hearts desire.

One day, he will put down his favorite race car for the last time. He won’t want to sleep on his Jeep shaped twin bed or want his toys scattered across his bedroom floor.

One day, he will start calling his parents ‘mom’ and ‘dad’ instead of ‘momma’ and ‘papi’.

With each day that passes, he is only growing older and wiser.

If you have a son, nephew, brother or special boy in your life, hold them a little tighter and longer tonight. Little boys don't stay little forever.