A woman's first love is always meaningful, even if things don’t turn out the way we dream. Fate has a way of leaving us with memories that last a lifetime; some sweet, some bittersweet. For a hopeless romantic like Kayla, the thrill of blossoming love opened her heart to a world both cruel and beautiful. In the warmth of affection, she found joy; in the sting of reality, she found growth. Love, she realized, isn’t just about happy endings; it’s about the lessons, the longing, and the moments that shape who we become.

This story is dedicated to my hopeless romantic friend, Yala.

Fragments of Us; What Could Have Been