We met one day during recess. Neither one of us liked the monkey bars and from there we built a beautiful relationship. After that fateful day, we were inseparable like Oreo cookies that have been sitting in the refrigerator too long. Everyday we met at our spot on the tire stack. We would sit there and talk about anything we could think of during the hour.

But our love, like most love, was forbidden. The odds were stacked against us. We were in separate fifth grade classes and complete opposites. You were a boy and I, a girl. You were chocolate ice cream and I was vanilla. We were from different sides of the track, if our town had train tracks. I wouldn't know. I never paid attention.

No one understood our love. We were living and loving in a world built solely on appearances. Our peers teased us mercilessly for being together all the time. They called us names like "Oreos" and accused us of having "Jungle Fever". Which makes me wonder how fifth graders were familiar with Jungle Fever. Especially in the white bread grade school we were in. But those names didn't stop us. No one could keep us apart. At least not during that one hour a day.

Valentine's Day rolled around that year, as it comes every year. I walked out to recess to meet you at the tire stack with my handmade Valentine for you. Okay, it was store bought. But I picked it out. I waited for five minutes, afraid that you wouldn't show. Finally, you appeared. You approached me with a small white envelope in one hand and a small box in the other. I opened the box nervously, keeping one eye peeled in case others were watching. I lifted the small lid and found a silver heart bracelet inside. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I gave you a hug, despite the snickers from the monkey bars.

The rest of the year went by in a blur. We still met every day at recess up to the last day of school. That summer went by just as fast. I arrived for school with a renewed sense of life and the hope that I would see you once again. At recess, I ran straight to our old spot. But you were not there. I never did see you that year and I moved shortly after sixth grade began.

Time has past and healed all wounds. We both moved on to different things. We've both loved and laughed with others, undoubtedly. And just as I lost you, I lost the bracelet that you gave me during my move. But you will always be my first love and I'll never forget you.