Playing "What if?"

Many times in each individual's life they stop and reflect on a simple question, what if? This simple question becomes much more complex with the passing of time. One thing I'm thankful for is that in this situation I went for it, I put my all into something, and most importantly, I learned from it.

When I look back on my summer I often think what could have been if I ended up with Pebble. Turns out I fell flat on my face and I lost the girl, but that's just the end of the story.

At some point in a young man's dating life he is confronted with that girl who seems so perfect in so many ways but there is a catch, she has a boyfriend. Often, and I speak for myself, I cease to go after that girl but Pebble was not just any girl. I consider myself to be a pretty moral guy and Pebble is definitely not the kind of girl to cheat on her boyfriend. I can say that with the utmost confidence and believe it to the grave. As the summer days passed I could not get Pebble out of my mind. Every day we talked and eventually the temptation was too strong. Pebble and I were attracted to each other and so I decided to "steal" her from her boyfriend. Call me what you will, jackass, douchebag, whatever. Maybe I deserve it but I would not trade my attempt for anything, I had to go after this girl. So I did just that. I openly expressed my feelings for her and she reciprocated them, my plan was working. This was Europe so breaking up with her boyfriend via Skype was a non-option (that's just not right.) We kept our little affair going from late June until our return in August and I could not be happier. Unfortunately for me, upon our return her boyfriend flew her to his hometown of Chicago where they worked out their differences and she asked forgiveness for her relations with me...

Yeah, that hurt. But staying bitter about the ordeal is not the mature way to handle the situation, and now I'm thankful for the experience. I learned a valuable lesson this summer. If I never made a move could I live with myself knowing that later in life I would ask, what if? Now, I don't have to ask that question, I know that I shot for the moon. The result was a lot of pain that I'm still not over (ie. this blog) but I have the sweet memories of long nights with her all across Europe. How often do you have the chance to spend a summer with an amazing girl in faraway countries? My point exactly... My "summer of love" is a life experience that I will never forget and while I have the pain to deal with, I may fall but I get back up.