Tag: young love

Emma’s Diary: January 1, 1992 – New Year’s Eve with Adam

✨ Author’s Note:
Some of Emma’s diary entries serve as companion pieces to moments in Unfinished Melody and its sequel, offering a deeper look into her past and the memories that still shape her story. This entry from Emma’s Diary 1992 takes us back to a New Year’s Eve she’ll never forget…

January 1, 1992

Dear Diary,

Last night Adam and I went to a New Year’s party, and it was seriously so much fun.

I wore this really sparkly outfit—like, a lot of sequins. Probably too many, but I didn’t even care. And I sprayed on my Electric Youth perfume (of course), so I felt pretty cute for once.

Olivia was there with Cameron, and we all hung out for a while. There was punch and a ton of snack trays and just… people everywhere. It got kind of loud, but in a good way.

Adam and I danced a lot.

Like, a lot.

But there was one song that felt different.

It was To Be With You. I’ve heard it before—I already liked it—but last night… I don’t know. It just hit me differently.

Adam pulled me a little closer when it came on, like he always does when we dance.

Nothing new.

Nothing out of the ordinary.

But the way he looked at me this time…

Like I was the only person in the room.

At one point he leaned in and said something in my ear, and I laughed, shaking my head because it was so him.

And then he kissed me.

Just like he’s done a million times before.

Easy.

Familiar.

But for some reason… it felt different.

I’ve kissed him so many times, I’ve lost count.

But last night…

I realized something.

It’s not overwhelming.

It’s not confusing.

It’s just… steady.

And maybe that’s what love is supposed to feel like.

Maybe it’s supposed to feel like something that stays.

Later, when things started to wind down, we ended up sitting a little closer than usual.

Not really thinking about it.

Just… comfortable.

There was a moment—just a small one—where everything felt really quiet between us.

Like we both knew what we were thinking without saying it.

Adam looked at me for a second, then just smiled and brushed his thumb along my hand.

And that was it.

We didn’t say anything about it.

We didn’t have to.

Adam drove me home. (Mom let me stay out until one so we could ring in the New Year.)

When we pulled up, the porch light was still on, and I could see the living room light glowing through the window.

He walked me up to the door like he always does.

“I had a really good time tonight,” he said.

I smiled. “Me too.”

He looked at me for a second, like he didn’t want the night to end yet.

“Sleep good, Emma,” he said softly. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” I said.

He leaned in and kissed me—soft at first, and then a little more playful, like he always does, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

I stayed there for a second after he pulled away from me, watching him walk back to his car.

And for the first time in a long time…

I didn’t feel like I was waiting for something else.

Want to hear the song mentioned in Emma’s Diary 1992? Listen here: To Be With You – Mr. Big

Interested in listening to the whole Emma & Adam playlist? Listen here: Emma & Adam’s Playlist – YouTube

Want to read more Diary Entries? Read them here: Emma’s Diary

Emma’s Diary – June 25, 1990

Some memories don’t fade… they linger in the quiet moments.

In this diary entry from 1990, Emma reflects on love, music, and emotions she thought she had left behind.

Inspired by “If Wishes Came True” by Sweet Sensation: YouTube Video

Some memories don’t fade… they just get quieter.

June 25, 1990

Dear Diary,

Today I cried.

Like… really cried. Not just a little.

And I don’t even know why it hit me like that.

I turned on MTV, and there he was.
Josh.

Blue eyes. That smile. His hair all curly like it used to be.
He looked the same… but also not.

They were interviewing Block 213, and I just kind of froze. I didn’t even change the channel. I couldn’t.

I don’t know why.

I mean… I’m with Adam now. I’m supposed to be over all of that.

But then the interview ended, and a song came on.
If Wishes Came True.

I almost changed it. I really did.

But I didn’t.

And I think that’s when everything just… hit me.

I just sat there listening, and all I could think about was him.
About us.

And then I started crying, and I couldn’t stop.

It’s been almost a year since I’ve seen him. Not really seen him.
The Sunday dinners stopped, and Mom said it was because he’s on tour, but… I don’t know. It feels like more than that.

I miss those dinners.
I miss Mrs. McGuire.
I miss all of them.

I miss him.

And I feel so bad even writing that.

Because Adam is so sweet.
He’s good to me, and he makes me happy.

And I do love him. I really do.

But it’s just… different.

I don’t think I ever stopped loving Josh.
I think I just got used to him not being here.

And now I feel horrible for crying over someone I’m not even supposed to have anymore.

I wish I didn’t feel like this.

But I do.

Anyway, Adam is coming over soon.

I just needed to get this out.

My eyes are probably so puffy.

Hopefully he won’t notice.

…Yeah, right.

He’ll definitely notice.

I should probably find some concealer.

Or something.

I just… don’t want him to ask why I was crying.

Read more about Emma here: Emma’s Diary

Want to know what the story is all about?

Get your copy here: Unfinished Melody — Amazon

Emma’s Diary: Christmas Eve, 1988

This Christmas Eve 1988 diary entry reflects on family traditions, meaningful gifts, and the quiet shift that comes with first love.
Some moments don’t feel different until suddenly… they do.

December 25, 1988

Dear Diary,

Last night was Christmas Eve, and Mom, Mitch, Molly, and I went over to Josh’s house for our annual Christmas dinner and gift exchange like we always do.

Josh was home for a little while from touring. I think he said he didn’t have to go back out again until February, which feels like forever but also not long enough at the same time.

The second we walked inside, it smelled like cinnamon. Mom uses the same one at home—I think it’s called Cinnamon Sticks. It’s that Glade one.

I’ve always liked that smell, but for some reason it felt different last night. Warmer, I guess.

The tree was my favorite part. I always loved looking at all the ornaments. Mitch, Molly, and I each had our own personalized one on the tree too.

Mrs. McGuire always thought of us as her kids too.

I think that’s why it has always felt like home there.

Everything felt the same as it always does, but also… not.

Dinner was fun like it always is. Everyone was laughing and talking, and it almost felt like nothing had changed.

After we ate, it was time for presents.

Mrs. McGuire always passed them out first before anyone could open anything. She went around the room one by one, handing them out, and we all just sat there waiting until everyone had a pile in front of them. It’s kind of my favorite part, even though it makes it feel like it takes forever.

Josh and I were sitting next to each other on the floor by the tree, so we could see what the other one got.

Once everyone had their presents, Mrs. McGuire finally said we could start.

I looked down at the pile in front of me, trying to figure out which ones were from him.

Josh leaned a little closer and pointed to one of them.

“That one’s mine,” he said.

I nodded and picked it up, and then pointed to one in his pile.

“That one’s yours,” I told him.

He opened his first.

It was the Boston Red Sox cap and the tickets to a Bruins game. I watched him the whole time, even though I tried not to make it obvious. I don’t know why I felt so nervous all of a sudden. I’ve given him presents a million times before.

And I didn’t get him friendship bracelets this time like I did for his birthday a few years ago.

I don’t even know why I thought about that.

But he smiled when he opened them. Like, really smiled.

Then I opened mine.

The first one was a diary.

It had a really colorful cover with dolphins and bright pink and purple all over it, with a little lock on the front, even though I would probably lose the key.

I smiled when I saw it. I don’t know why, but it felt like a really perfect gift.

Then I opened the other one.

It was a cassette tape.

Block 213 was written across the front.

I turned it over in my hands before looking back at him.

“So you can listen when I’m not here,” he said.

I don’t even have a tape player in my room, but I was already trying to figure out how I was going to listen to it.

That was a special moment.

I hugged him right then and there, even though everyone else was still opening presents. I told him thank you and that I would listen to it every day, and I actually meant it.

I kept looking at the cassette after that, even when I was opening my other gifts.

I don’t know why, but everything felt a little different after that.

Later, when it was time to go home, Josh walked me back across the street.

It was really quiet outside. You could still see Christmas lights on all the houses, and the air felt really cold, but not in a bad way.

We stood there for a second in front of my house like we always do.

He looked at me for a second, and then he leaned in and kissed me.

He’s kissed me before.

But for some reason… it didn’t feel the same.

“Merry Christmas,” he said.

“Merry Christmas,” I said back.

I don’t even know why, but I kept thinking about it after I went inside.

I kept looking at the diary and the tape later that night.

And I kept thinking about that kiss too.

I don’t know why everything felt different all of a sudden.

Now I’m writing in the diary he gave me.

Mom got me a new jambox for Christmas, so I’ve been using it all day.

I’ve listened to the Block 213 tape so much already that I had to stop because I was scared I might wear it out.

So I switched it over to the radio.

There was a song that played a few minutes ago.

I think I heard it last night too, but I didn’t really pay attention to it then.

I think it was called More Than You Know.

But this time…
I actually listened to it.

It didn’t sound like just a song.

It felt like something I was trying not to think about.

Like it was saying something I already knew but didn’t want to say out loud.

I’ve heard songs before that made me think of him.
Like… a lot of them.

But this one felt different.

I don’t even really know how to explain it.

It wasn’t just that it reminded me of him.

It was like…
it meant something.

And the whole time it was playing…
I couldn’t stop thinking about him.

Not like before.

This was the song playing on the radio that night—the one she couldn’t stop thinking about:

More Than You Know — Martika (YouTube Video)

Read more diary entries here: Emma’s Diary

Read more about Emma and Josh’s history here: Emma’s First Kiss

Interested in the whole story. Get your copy here: Unfinished Melody — Amazon

💙 Adam’s Blog – The Game and a First Love Memory

A First Love Memory That Stayed With Me

I’d played a hundred games before that one… but it was the first time it actually mattered who was in the stands.

She told me she would come, and she kept her promise.

I caught her walking in with Olivia just before warmups. I remember trying not to stare—but I did anyway. I lifted my hand in a quick wave, and when she smiled back at me… yeah, that was it.

She looked so cute. Effortless. Like she didn’t even realize what just showing up meant to me.

And I remember thinking—she’s here. She came to see me.

I couldn’t actually believe she was mine.

Fourteen-year-old me was pretty sure that meant something permanent.

The gym was loud that night. Sneakers squeaking against the floor, the echo of the buzzer, people shouting from the stands. I’d heard it all before.

But that night, it all sounded different.

Or maybe it was just me.

I kept telling myself not to look for her again. I’d already seen her come in, already waved like an idiot during warmups. That should’ve been enough.

It wasn’t.

Every time I stepped up to the line, every time the ball left my hands, I caught myself glancing toward the stands.

She was still there.

Sitting with Olivia, leaning forward just a little, like she was actually paying attention. Like it mattered to her.

I don’t remember much about the first half. I probably should. I’m sure Coach would’ve had a lot to say about that.

I just remember my heart pounding a little harder than usual.

Not because of the game.

Because of her.

I thought that meant something important—that if she was there, if she was watching, then I had to be better.

So I played like it mattered.

I ran a little faster. Took shots I might’ve hesitated on. Dove for loose balls I probably would’ve let go.

And every once in a while, I’d hear it—her voice, somewhere in the noise.

Cheering.

For me.

It came down to the last few seconds.

I remember that much.

The score was tied, and the gym got quieter in that strange way it does—like everyone’s holding their breath at the same time.

The ball ended up in my hands. I don’t even remember how.

I probably panicked for half a second.

And then I looked up.

Not at the basket.

At her.

She was already watching me.

And for some reason, that made it simple.

I took the shot.

It went in.

The buzzer sounded, and the place exploded. Teammates yelling, people jumping up, Coach clapping me on the back like I’d just done something incredible.

And maybe I had.

But I didn’t look at any of them.

I looked at her.

She was smiling.

That’s the part I remember.

By the time everything settled down—handshakes, Coach talking, guys messing around—I kept finding myself looking toward the stands again.

She was gone.

And for a second, I thought maybe I’d missed her.

Then I turned around—and there she was.

Waiting for me near the edge of the court.

Like she’d been there the whole time.

I remember walking over, trying to play it cool, like I hadn’t just spent the entire game hoping she was watching.

“You were amazing,” she said.

Simple.

But the way she said it… like she actually meant it.

And before I could even think of something to say back, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me.

I froze for half a second—probably longer than I should have.

I had no idea what to do with that.

But I hugged her back.

Of course I did.

And then, just as she pulled away, she leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to my cheek.

It barely lasted a second.

But yeah…

I felt that for a while.

Funny, the things you hold onto.

I couldn’t tell you the final score of that game now if you asked me.

I don’t remember who we played.

But I remember exactly where she was sitting.

I remember the way she smiled when I looked over.

And I remember walking out of that gym thinking I’d just had the best night of my life.

Because she was there.

And for a little while…

I was pretty sure she was mine.

Read more of Adam’s journey with Emma here: Adam’s Myspace Blog

Want to read Unfinished Melody? Get your copy here: Unfinished Melody – Amazon

🎧 Song for this memory: “To Be With You” — Mr. Big — Listen to it here: Youtube Video