DAY 3!

Today's memory was a special one to me—it was supposed to be a solo trip, but I ended up running into my boyfriend at the airport. The way we both gaped at each other like we weren't supposed to be there is imprinted in my memory forever, and looking back at that trip now, that winter in New York completely ruined me. It literally felt like we were living inside a classic old movie. It was just so incredibly romantic, and I get this deep ache of nostalgia every single time I look through my camera roll because it honestly feels like a beautiful dream we had to wake up from. I can still vividly feel that sharp, biting city cold against my face and exactly how comforting it felt to have my hand slipped firmly inside his coat pocket, our fingers intertwined, keeping each other warm while the rest of the world rushed past us. Central Park was a total winter wonderland, like a quiet sanctuary meant just for the two of us. It was so surreal and peaceful compared to the rest of the city; all the barren tree branches were perfectly laced in white, and fresh snow beautifully dusted the Bethesda Fountain. We just walked around for hours in a daze, watching our breath mingle in the freezing air, utterly wrapped up in our own little universe. We did all the classic, cinematic sightseeing spots. We stood hand-in-hand under the massive, glowing Rockefeller tree, watched the ice skaters glide around in the dark, and walked through Grand Central, which had this gorgeous, golden light bouncing off the stone walls that made everything feel so timeless and grand. Of course, we couldn’t have a perfect New York trip without at least one beautiful disaster. We were trying to find this hidden, intimate rooftop spot to watch the city lights, but we managed to get completely turned around in the subway grid. We ended up boarding the exact opposite train, going the wrong direction, and missed our stop by miles. By the time we finally emerged back onto the street, a massive gust of winter wind hit us like a brick wall and literally blew my favorite glove right off my hand, sending it straight down a dark storm drain. We were totally lost and freezing, and I had one bare hand, but he immediately grabbed it, pulled it right into his chest, and we just sprinted into the nearest tiny, glowing hole-in-the-wall diner we could find. We sat in a faded booth laughing hysterically, thawing out our frozen fingers over the most amazing, steaming hot chocolates. Honestly, looking back, that messy, frozen moment is one of my favorite memories of us. At night, seeing the endless skyline lit up against the dark, freezing sky was just breathtaking. In that cold air, looking at the city lights and then looking at him, it seriously felt like the entire world was staged just to bring the two of us to that exact spot. From that crazy, accidental airport run-in all the way to our last night, I miss that feeling so much