She walked through the hallway, head down, eyes darting from couple to couple. She could see the balloons, the chocolate boxes, the flowers, the cards. Her heart grew heavy, as she thought about not having anyone to share this special day with. She didn't really want one, but it was nice to know someone loves you.

As valentine wishes and loving words were whispered between the couples, she footsteps grew heavier. She saw girls with hundreds of balloons, and roses, and giant teddy bears, and boys following them with more balloons, roses, and bears. Quickly she glanced behind her, but all she saw was the double doors at the end of the hallway.

A boy was approaching her holding a red rose, and her heart skipped a beat. She began to smile as he got closer. However, it quickly vanished when he passed right by her, into the arms of another girl.

She was happy for these people, truly she was, but everyone wants to be loved. And it feels different to be loved by 'that special someone' than it does to be loved by a friend. She looked longingly behind her once more before she opened the heavy glass doors to the outside.

Sunlight bathed her and she squinted into the courtyard, only to be met with more images of love. The sunlight was blocked momentarily by a bunch of balloons probably equaling around 300, or 8, but really, who could tell the difference.

She felt that pang in her heart again when she saw her own friends with their significant others, feeling like the only person in the whole school without someone to love.

She felt a tap on her shoulder, and turned to see her best friend behind her. She smiled gratefully, because for a short amount of time, she wouldn't be thinking about how lonely she was. Her friend quickly hugged her, and gave her a piece of paper with a few words scribbled on it. Then she disappeared into the mix of people and items of love.

Her eyes watered as she read the words she desperately needed to hear.

"As time goes on, people pass,

Chocolate gets eaten, hearts break like glass.

As time goes on, red roses turn gray,

Flowers wither, balloons float away.

As time goes on, on this you can depend,

Surely we'll fight, but my love will never end.

"-Love between a girl and boy, especially at this age, is finite. Sure, there are high school sweet heart occasions, but I wouldn't get too hung up on that. I know you want the love, trust me I do too, but be happy with where you are now. Like I said before, those chocolates will soon be consumed, balloon deflate or float away, and flowers wither and die. But one thing stays forever. Memories.

"Remember when we hopped that fence going to McDonalds, or that time we ran around our neighborhood yelling 'Good night moon.' The time we failed at making tie-dye shirts on your driveway, or when we rode every ride multiple times at the carnival.

"These are the moments that live forever, the ones that are never forgotten. Even though boys come and go, and there will probably be many more 'lonely' Valentines days, you're never really alone. You're my best friend, and I love you."

She left her place in the courtyard with a new feeling. Realizing that, in fact, all she need was the love of her friends, she decided to tackle the rest of the day with a new air about her. She held her head high, and walked with a strut proving she wasn't going to be brought down anymore. She smiled at the gooey-eyed couples, happy for them. Sure, there was still that feeling of wanting to be wanted, but for right now, she only had one thought in her mind: "I'm single and proud of it!"