Hello there!

University of Northwestern St. Paul is abuzz with the annual 5:16 Film Festival. Andrew is dressed in his nicest clothes. Three films he acted in are premiering tonight. He checks his phone nervously. Teresa is on her way. He paces back and forth, ignoring the throngs of cinephiles filling in the space. The door opens, and he turns around. Standing there in her pretty green dress is Teresa. Her dress takes the beauty of her eyes and multiplies it tenfold. Andrew nervously approaches her. “Hi.” She smiles. He smiles back. They make their way to the auditorium. Andrew has front row seats. The show begins. The films are good, but Andrew doesn’t care about them. He sneaks looks at Teresa’s face every chance he can get. She’s gorgeous. The film festival ends, and people go home. But not Andrew and Teresa. Not yet. They drive to Olive Garden. They’re closing soon, but they still allow the shy couple to come in. Conversation fills the hour as the food fills their bellies. Teresa’s eyes sparkle, and Andrew’s heart races. He drives back to the school, and stops at Teresa’s car. It isn’t time to leave yet. There’s still things to say. Hours pass in what feels like seconds. And then, just as soon as it began, Teresa is gone, leaving Andrew grinning from ear to ear and with a joy in his heart he has never felt before. His mind races as he drives home that night, excited for the first time in years. Tonight was special. SHE was special. And she always would be.