One Good Year

Dear diary,

Today was like, such a roller coaster of emotion! Like, Idk how could I express it, but I guess the best is to start from the beginning.

So, today marked the arrival of the new collections at the mall. I was so excited! And I was going to go with my super bestest bff in the entire world, Ashley A.

Man, I still can’t believe how much we have in common! Like, how did we lose SO much time fighting and arguing about stuff so little when we discover we’re actually very alike!

Yes, I wasn’t so sure at first of joining the Ashleys, but I guess it was just meant to be; it was so weird and strange, but now I just can’t imagine not being one with my sisters!

I got ready with my super cute outfit, a little lipstick on my lips (I’m like so lucky; most mothers of girls my age don’t allow her daughters to wear any makeup; if anything, my mom was SUPER EXCITED and even made me some recommendations). I shared that mostly with Ashley A. Between you and me, dear little book, even when I love my other sisters, there’s a special connection between A and me (I will never forget how she pretty much gave me a welcome to her world since that beauty contest we both took part in).

I arrived, waiting for one of my sisters, and then, I saw him. TJ Detweiler. It’s been a while since the last time we met. Not a lot, tbh, but it felt like AN ETERNITY. Almost as if it was a past life. In a way, it was, right? Another Ashley, another person.

He looked a little sad, or should I say disappointed? IDK, I can’t read minds or whatever. Ugh, is he feeling sorry for me? If anything, I should feel sorry for him! I’m like, A VISION! I finally could reach my full potential, and life at home and school is so totally better.

For a while, I remember he and the rest of his friends tried to convince me to go back “to normal”.

And, if I have to be COMPLETELY honest, part of me kinda wanted that, to some degree I guess. Can’t deny I did have some fun. Back then. But little by little, those memories became, well, that: a memory. Something beautiful to recall, but not something I had any interest to re-live.

And with enough time, I didn’t even enjoy recalling those moments that much. Ugh, playing in the mud and the dirt, ruining my nails, my hair or my dress? YUCK!

“Hey sis”, I heard Ashley A calling my name, just realizing she just arrived, standing by my side, “how are you doing?”

“Oh, hi!” I said.

“Ready for the sale? Ashley B, Ashley Q and Ashley T are going to be here pretty soon!”

“Ready? Since yesterday!”

“Scandalous!” we both shouted and giggled.

I took a look at the distance; TJ wasn’t there anymore. Good, he was stressing me out, and I needed to focus to get the cutest outfits I could put my hands on. That was then, this is now, this is the new me: Ashley S, and I was going to use that name with pride. I had so many plans. To get into more beauty contests, and into the cheerleading team this year. Oh, what a school year this is gonna be!

ASHLEY S