During most of the winter of my freshman year, when I was fifteen, I was dating this girl. She was a sweet girl who I liked very much. Now, my parents had some stricter rules around the time, for example I wasn’t allowed to hang out with her until I was sixteen. I wasn’t allowed to kiss a girl on the lips until I was eighteen, but I broke that rule. I was having a good relationship with her. Things were going well. we made group plans so we could hang out. 

We had been dating for about six months and she fell into a state of depression. She has had these times before but this time it was unique. It ended up lasting a really long time and we have the explanation for that now. But basically, I spent about three months trying to cheer her up and hoping that I would help her through this.

“Hey,” I would say hoping that I would get a response. I usually didn’t. Sometimes I would spend time sending her funny things. Hoping that it would put a smile on her face. 

 I spent those three months by her side, I would try and talk to her, and I would ask her how her day was.

“Hey, how has your day been?” I would ask.

“Meh,” She would say, but most times she didn’t say anything.

I would sit with her at lunch, and I would even text her mother to come up with ideas to help cheer her up. 

It didn’t end up working and we ended up breaking up. But I learned a lot from that relationship. I can see red flags a lot sooner, and honestly, it probably has saved me from being in toxic relationships. But I’m proud to say that I  have been by the side of all my friends when they are hurting and I always try to be there for them.