I really need to pay more attention!

It wouldn’t matter if I were Group 1, it would take me to Group 6 to finally start boarding. I really need to pay more attention!

A window seat is always my choice so I scoot into it, right behind first class. It’s the next best thing with all the leg room.

A beautiful young girl sits beside me and I honestly don’t remember our first words but once we started talking, we didn’t stop.

Lauren, 24, is visiting family on the island who have vacationed here for years. Her mom and dad couldn’t make it but she didn’t want to miss out on spending time with her aunt, uncle, and cousins.

Her boyfriend of 2 years became the topic of our conversation. He is in the Navy, currently in Pensacola. She lives in Delaware. I say her boyfriend but they aren’t together anymore although they are still communicating and keeping tabs on each other.

Lauren opened up and started talking about their relationship and at first, I played the devils advocate, as I typically do, always trying to see both sides. The more she talked, the more I realized how he made her feel less…. less than him, how she should and should not be… how she questions herself, his degrading comments and what seemed to be very controlling behavior made me flip my switch and say, “Get out now!”

I explained to her that she is in love with the version she envisions him to be, not who he is or who he portrayed himself to be in the beginning of their relationship. People tend to show their true colors after the fact, don’t they? I told her she will loose pieces of herself and will not be able to recognize who she is in a few years. I understand this, as I too, have been there.

Lauren was a sweetheart and invited me to visit with her and her family in Oak Bluffs. Sadly, I had to decline. I had some soul shines to surprise.