The year was 2005, and I was a brand new sophomore just figuring things out. I had joined the ASU track team and was living in King Hall with the other athletes. Every morning, Daryl, Nic, and I would wake up super early for our first practice of the day. Afterward, we’d hit up the café for breakfast, usually with John, Clarence (who was Nic’s roommate), and a few others. This became our little routine.

One day while we were chatting at lunch, two ladies came over, and little did I know that one of them would turn out to be the love of my life. Shenelle was friends with Nic and Clarence, and at first, I didn’t really talk much when she was around—I was usually off in my own head. But as we kept running into each other, we started having little conversations. They were always a bit competitive but respectful. I ended up really respecting her because she was one of the few women I’d met who could keep up with me, and it turned into a fun challenge to try to get a rise out of her.

By September 2006, I had to leave school because I ran out of money and knew I needed to grow up a bit. We stayed connected on Facebook, sending the occasional message to check in. Time flew by, and while we’d chat every now and then, it wasn’t something that weighed on our minds.

In 2012, my life finally calmed down enough for me to head back to school and finish my degree. I was on a class trip to the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles when we reconnected. I don’t remember who called who, but we ended up talking for two and a half hours, catching up while I was on my way to the museum. We promised to keep in touch because there was so much to share.

At the time, I was still married, and Shenelle always respected my marriage. However, as I transitioned out of that life, she offered me support, counsel, and stability. Her belief in God and the power of forgiveness helped ground me during some of my darkest moments and truly revealed her character as both a person and a friend. Throughout my educational journey, she remained exceptionally supportive. As a new parent, I also shared tips with her about raising kids. Despite the years passing, along with the chaos of divorce and breakups, we chose to remain friends, maintaining the close bond we had developed.

It Was Always You