My First Love, Stella.

Watching a four legged, heavy breathing and unconditionally loving canine brush past my leg on a narrow city sidewalk, I was stunned. Immediately spinning my head around to observe its backside wag back and forth, my jaw dropped at least ten inches. Proceeding to tap my father on the shoulder short of a million times, I yelled “Look, look, look!” 

Alarmingly turning his head, he quickly responded uttering, “What? Look at what?” 

Narrowing my eyes, I pointed my finger at the furry being that was now behind us. Initially confused, a small smirk began to formulate in the corners of his mouth. He said, “Do you mean the dog?” I nodded my head incessantly. Laughing for only a moment, he responded “Oh!” Crouching down to his knees, accommodating to my small height, he informed me of what a dog was.

From that moment on, my obsession fluctuated between a multitude of dog breeds. Beginning with a pug, my phases were not only intense but exceedingly irritating for my parents. What became an everyday tradition, eventually led to one of the best days of my life.

Looking out the backseat window of my mother’s car, I couldn’t seem to distract myself from the night ahead. Watching the sun intersect with the mountains, I witnessed the colors in the sky transition into a beautiful peach yellow sunset. Observing cars zoom by, each one became less and less distinguishable; their vehicles turned into blobs of light as my breath fogged up the window. Feeling a large jump in my stomach, I could not tame the erupting smile that stretched across my face. My father laughed as we made eye contact in the rear view mirror; he knew I had won. Time stood still for the entirety of the drive. Still, unable to concentrate, my leg began to bounce nonstop, pattering the floor of the car. Feeling my bum slide across the backseat, I realized I had not fastened my seatbelt. Hearing a click, my father pulled into a parking space, consequently notifying me that we had arrived. Feeling guilty yet rebellious, I unfastened my seatbelt and snickered to myself. 

Walking into a small pickup area on the outskirts of the San Francisco airport, I felt impatient. Immediately checking in with the lady at the front desk, she informed us that our new puppy, Stella, had arrived. Elated from the inside out, my leg continued to bounce up and down; I decided to stand up. Glimpsing a small crate from the corner of my eye, I knew it was time; an employee handed the crate to my father. Lacing my hands between the gate, I opened its doors slowly. Feeling her soft paw in my hand, I felt my heart explode straight through my chest. For the first time in my life, I was in love.