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I’ve always been in love
with Luke. |
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For as far back
as I can remember. |
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I used to climb into his lap,
throw my arms around his neck, |
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and tell him I was gonna marry him
when I grew up. |
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And Luke would smile down at me
and say, |
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“I’ll wait for you, Lily.
I promise.” |
|
 |
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Since he left for Kenya.
But today—
he’s finally coming back. |
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When Luke left,
I was flat as an ironing board.
Now I’m more like an ironing board with boobs. |
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When Luke left, I had a billion zits.
Now I’ve only got a million.
Plus, I’ve mastered the magic of makeup. |
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When Luke left, my mouth was so full of braces
it felt like my teeth were wrapped
in barbed wire. |
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Yesterday I got them off.
Now my teeth feel smoother
than my iPhone screen. |
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I can’t stop running my tongue over them.
I’ve been smiling so much my cheeks hurt.
And everyone’s been smiling back. |
|
 |
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I felt like
a caterpillar. |
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Like
this blobby |
|
thing
waiting to happen. |
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Now
I feel more like a butterfly— |
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a butterfly who can’t decide
which wings to wear. |
|
 |
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Twice.
I’ve rifled through all my drawers.
I’ve even braved the spidery depths
beneath my bed. |
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But it’s no use—it’s all too old
or tight or loose, or just plain ugly.
I text Taylor and Rose for emergency
wardrobe advice, but they don’t text back. |
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Then I hear my little sister Alice
clomping down the stairs in my shoes.
She’s always playing dress-up with my stuff
and “forgetting” to return it. |
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I dash down the hall and dig through her drawers
till I find my clingy pink top—the one that’s been
missing so long I figured I’d left it at Rose’s
after one of our sleepovers. |
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I race back to my room to put it on.
I shimmy into my favorite jeans,
swipe on some Kiss Me Quick lip gloss,
and pause to study myself in the mirror. |
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How will I look to Luke?
Will he notice how much I’ve changed?
Have I changed as much
as I think I have? |
|
 |
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My heart’s thumping like crazy
as I stare down the long hallway,
trying to spot Luke in the crowd. |
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I feel like maybe I’m gonna swoon—
like I’m the heroine of one of those
love stories I’m always reading. |
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And as I wait for my first glimpse of him,
my whole life seems
to hold |
|
| its breath… |
| |
 |
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Waving at us and smiling,
looking tan and sort of lumberjack-ish. |
| |
And even more beautiful
than I remember. |
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I snap a photo,
to try to capture it. |
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Then Alice is slipping her hand into mine,
whispering, “He’s home.” |
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And Luke’s rushing over,
pulling my parents into a hug. |
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Was he always
that much taller than Dad? |
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Now he’s lifting Alice right off her feet,
swinging her around. |
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And now he’s swinging her
back down to earth, |
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reaching for me, saying, “Lily… My Lily…
You turned into a woman while I was gone!” |
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| Oh my God. |
| |
 |
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Luke’s
wrapping his arms
around me. |
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And for a few seconds,
while my cheek’s pressed
against his heart, |
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| everything is perfect … |
