He Is Spring

They say everyone finds love in a different way, but when it arrives, there’s no denying it—and no escaping it. The love story I’m about to tell isn’t very different from many others out there, but even so, it’s unique.

New Orleans—where every day feels like a Saturday, and every Saturday feels like a reason to celebrate. Bathed by the Mississippi River and driven by the most festive and lively place in the world, the French Quarter, it’s in this very setting—where summers are hotter and springs are more vibrant—that everything happens.

August 1990. High school classes were just beginning at New Orleans High School, and Benjamin was standing in the middle of the hallway with his two loyal friends: James and Dave. Like every first day of school, the place was pure chaos. Some teenagers talked so loudly it seemed like they didn’t care about anyone else, while others spoke so quietly it felt like they were sharing state secrets. Benjamin looked around and could both see and feel the chaos and excitement of that place. After all, it was school.

In one of those glances, he saw something that caught his attention.

Near the bulletin board, there was a boy leaning against the wall, seemingly detached from everything. He wore a soft smile, clearly lost in his own world—a world completely different from all that noise. The moment Benjamin noticed him, he couldn’t stop watching. The boy’s smile widened, and he began walking toward Benjamin and his friends. The closer he got, the more nervous Benjamin felt. James and Dave also turned their attention to the stranger approaching them.

In the blink of an eye, the boy passed the three of them and walked straight toward a Black boy standing at the end of the hallway—and hugged him.

They smiled, not caring about anything else, staying in that embrace for a few seconds under everyone’s watchful eyes.

The bell rang.

The two boys who had been hugging walked past Benjamin and his friends. As he passed, the boy with the beautiful smile stopped near Benjamin and said:

“By the way, I’m Gabriel Shaw.”

Benjamin said nothing. He just stood there, frozen, watching the boy with the most beautiful smile he had ever seen walk away.

“Benjamin! Ben…” James called, but it was like Benjamin was in another world—until a nudge snapped him back.

“What do you guys want?” he asked, still a bit dazed.

“Did you see those two hugging like that? Do you think they’re a couple?” James asked.

“I don’t know… but they’re definitely weird,” Benjamin replied.

“Very weird,” Dave added. “But come on, let’s go to class.”

The boys headed to their classroom. The teacher was already there, but since it was still the first day, he let them in without any trouble.

“As I was saying, you’re going to choose a classmate, get to know them a little better, and then come up here and introduce them. You have ten minutes to do this, starting… now,” the teacher concluded.

The classroom instantly turned into chaos.

Students walked around, talking to one another. Ben glanced to the side and saw those same two boys from the hallway. They weren’t talking to each other—or to anyone else.

Are they not going to do the assignment? he wondered.

When the time was up, the presentations began—some funny, others shy. Benjamin went up with James, who introduced him, and then Benjamin returned the favor.

The last to present were the two boys from the hallway.

The Black boy with caramel-colored eyes began:

“Good morning, everyone. Well, this guy here next to me is Gabriel Shaw—or just Shaw, as he likes to be called. Shaw is the most incredible person I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. He hates fights, but if someone tries to hurt his friends, he’s capable of starting a war. His room is completely organized—except for his bed, which is always messy. He doesn’t like hot food. He loves reading and writing, but I’d say his greatest passion is dancing.”

The boy looked at Shaw for a few seconds, smiled, and continued:

“His smile is the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen. Sometimes I feel like framing it and hanging it on the wall. Shaw is always willing to help anyone, no matter who they are. When you get the chance, you should get to know him. I’m sure you won’t regret it.”

Everyone—including the teacher—stared at them, not quite understanding.

Then the boy with tan skin, dark brown hair, and greenish eyes—whose name everyone now knew—began:

“Hi everyone. This guy here next to me is Ian Vorch. He’s an amazing human being and also one of the loves of my life. Unlike me, Ian is very messy—you can’t walk through his room without tripping over a shirt or a pair of sneakers on the floor. But his bed? Always perfectly made. Ian loves basketball, and he’s good at it—I’d even say he’s one of the best I’ve ever seen. He’s a bit hot-tempered too, but I do what I can to calm him down.”

Shaw glanced at Ian, scratched his head, and smiled—the most sincere and beautiful smile most people in that room had ever seen.

“Ian doesn’t really like dancing, but he still dances because he knows I love it. And being his friend is one of the greatest gifts God has ever given me.”

Once again, the entire class stared at them.

After a few seconds, James asked:

“So… are you two a couple?”

“Yes,” Shaw replied. “We’re a pair of friends. Have been for a long time.”

“Damn… good. I thought you were some kind of sexual perverts.”

Ian was about to respond, but the teacher interrupted, asking them to sit down. Soon after, the bell rang.

The rest of the school day passed without much happening.

When Benjamin got home and lay down on his bed, he couldn’t stop thinking about Gabriel’s smile. And truth be told, that boy had a gentle, simple, beautiful smile—the kind that made you feel like if he smiled in the middle of a war, it would immediately come to an end.

Benjamin didn’t quite understand why he couldn’t get that boy out of his head.

But one thing he knew for sure—

He had to get to know him better.