To my first love,
I was only about two and a half when we first met, and my life has never been the same since. I haven't ever really taken the time to thank you for everything you have given to me. Without you in my life, how could I ever have gotten through loss, the awkward middle school years, or the stress that came with high school?
I know it may seem like we have recently grown distant, but I have truly never missed you more. The days we spent together were some of my greatest memories. The times you got me through are unforgettable. Without you, my life could never be the same.
To my first love, to the sport that changed my life, to dance, thank you.
For as long as I can remember, the studio was my safe haven. It was the place I could go to escape everything else. A break from my family, school, friends, and the real world. In the studio, I was in my own world.
But then things changed. I grew up, I moved away. I stopped connecting with what I loved. Now, all I want is that freedom. The journey that I am sure to be taken on. The motions that transform my feelings into something that words just can't. I want those days back with my team, all connecting through the sport that we love so much. I want the days of competition, of performance. I want the days of tears with my teammates after a hard practice, after a big win. I want those days back.
Every little girl goes through her phase of a love for dance. But for me, it wasn't just a phase. It was my life. For 16 years, I spent my days at the studio, practicing, learning. It wasn't just about the technique, it was about the passion. It was about something that nobody can teach. What we had together, it's something special; it's something I will cherish forever.
To my first love: Thank you for being there when no person could be. Thank you for being the one constant during all of the uncontrollable change. No matter what is to come, nobody can take away those 16 years we spent together. Nobody can take away everything we have been through. Nobody can take away the literal blood, sweat, and tears left in that studio. Thank you for the successes and for the failures. Thank you for teaching me so much.
Sincerely,
The Girl Who Needed You Most
