It was October 21st, the morning of my fifteenth birthday. I thought my mom would’ve bought me the usual shirt and maybe some makeup or something, but something different happened this year. I walked upstairs to the kitchen from my bedroom to the wonderful smell of breakfast pizza, my mom and two sisters were sitting at the table, waiting for me. There was a bag from Victoria’s Secret sitting next to my sister. I had got excited thinking that I had gotten a new sweatshirt or something, and I was eager to open my gift. After taking a seat across from my mother, she smiled and announced, “Go ahead and open your gift, honey.”

“Okay...” I replied nervously, for what I had hoped to be something amazing.

I hurriedly threw out the tissue paper and found that in the bag from Victoria’s Secret was not something they sell at all, it was the ugliest sweater I had ever seen. Like any good kid, I tried to smile and act grateful for my mother’s gift, but inside I was thinking, “Doesn’t she know me better?” Following this, my mother instructed me to open my card. I had at least hoped the card showed my mother knew me a little better since the sweater certainly was not my style.I proceeded to open the card. Pulling apart the petal pink envelope unveiled a card that looked far too sophisticated for a new fifteen year old. The card’s front had a thoughtful message about daughter’s birthdays, and after opening the card, I don’t even remember what the inside had said. On the inside of that boring card laid the best birthday present I have received whole life: there were two tickets to see my all-time favorite singer: Hunter Hayes.

On Friday, November 14th, 2015, I woke up at 10:30 a.m. with lots of energy and excitement. I ran upstairs to find I was home alone. I automatically was ready to prep myself because today was the day I got to see Hunter Hayes. After showering and spending several hours on my hair and makeup, I was ready to leave my house by early afternoon. The drive to Moline seemed to take months. I felt that I was in a dream, and I couldn’t quite wrap my head around the fact that I was going to see Hunter.

My mom asked, “Are you excited?”

“Yes!!” I exclaimed.

I thought to myself, “Of course I was ready to see Hunter.” After arriving in Moline, my mom and I had about two hours until the opening acts even started. We didn’t know what to do in a city we’d never been to, and for me, never heard of before this day. We drove around for a while and then finally we decided to just go into the arena. After waiting in line for about twenty minutes with girls who all looked as excited as I was, the officials finally let us in. We went immediately to the T-shirt stand before it got too crowded to buy a tee. Once we had gotten my T-shirt, we went to find our seats, and once we found them on the floor of the arena, suddenly I was left alone, for my mom wanted to find an outlet to charge her phone. I was so nervous in this big arena all by myself with lots of people I didn’t know anything about. I also was frightened my mom wouldn’t make it back in time for Hunter to preform. I was speechless because of all the people screaming and the energy in the room before the concert even started: however, I loved it. My mom returned about fifteen minutes before the opening-opening act The Railers, performed. They were good, but all I cared about was when my favorite country singer was going to walk onto that stage. Following The Railers was Dan + Shay who were also incredible; still all I wanted right then was Hunter After Dan + Shay performed, I was so excited and nervous at the same time to see Hunter. I mean I can honestly say I love this man and his music with deep feelings that I cannot even express into words. The wait in between acts seemed to take forever, but looking back it was just my complete excitement because I was going to see Hunter Hayes.

I thought to myself, “When will he perform?”

I looked past the short woman in front of me to look for him.

All the lights were out and the arena was dark.

“He’s coming!” my mother told me.

When the lights got lower, I knew he was coming.

My favorite man had just become closer to me than ever.

The bass of the speakers filled my chest and all around me. The loud music filled me and everyone else in the room with energy. The first note of his electric guitar was loud and beautiful! The sound of his voice took my breath away.

The dark arena--filled with thousands of people all waiting for the same thing--and then his shadow appeared on the back spread.

Though I was in tears, I was so excited that I finally got to experience what all my other friends that are friends of Hunter talk about, and I couldn’t believe it. Hunter opened singing “Storyline” which is one of my favorite songs of his, and the best part was he was wearing my favorite color, green. He was as hot as an oven. Hunter felt so close to me even from a distance I got a whiff of his cologne as he walked closer to me on the stage. Although we were in the seventh row, I felt like I could touch his arm, and I think everyone else felt that way too.

He then proceeded with shouting, “You guys are so amazing! I love you all! Thanks for making the trip to sing with me!”

Hunter then followed by singing every other song off of his two albums with the most emotion and energy you can imagine in a twenty-three year old award winning country superstar to do. The concert lasted about three hours, and when it was over, I wanted to wake up the next morning and do it all again. Hunter just has an energy and heart about him you can’t forget. He reminded the crowd several times how much he loved us and told us how amazing we were even though I thought he was the only amazing one in the room. It is by far one of my favorite birthday gifts and memories.

After the concert, my mouth was so dry from singing along to all the songs. Luckily we bought water before the concert. I opened the water and took a sip. The water crisp and cool in my mouth, was refreshing to my scratchy throat; it was relieving.

If I’ve learned one thing from this experience; it would be to always, always open the card first.