The photo I did not take:

Fall semester, 2019, Suffolk County Community College. He sat atop a latter, hanging a stage light for an upcoming production in room 119, the black box theater. I stood below him holding the latter for support, glimpsing up every so often, but being too frightened to meet his eye. Prior to class beginning, we had gone for a walk in the misty rain and briefly disclosed our feelings for one another (yet another moment worth capturing), so holding onto that latter felt like the hardest thing to do with so many emotions and not enough space. But I’ll never forget the way he glanced down at me, softly smiling with the glow of the lights shining on him. His face was illuminated, sweat and all, and something in me (along with my anxiety and nervousness) felt seen. Because of that one moment, I now take every opportunity to photograph his beautiful face for sake of never wanting to forget the feeling attached with a memory. Photographs may not be able to fully capture the intensity of the emotion, but they sure can bring back a few.