Kisses from Yesterday

Episode 9: Joni’s Changing World

Episode 9: Joni’s Changing World

At twelve years old, Joni felt her world beginning to shift. It wasn’t a sudden change, but a gradual process, like watching the tide slowly pull back from the shore. She noticed it in small moments—a different kind of excitement for things she hadn’t cared about before, a new independence that she was just beginning to explore. It wasn’t that she didn’t value the familiar comforts of her childhood, but she was starting to realize there was more to her life than she had imagined.

Her mornings were different now. Joni used to tumble out of bed, barely brushing her hair, grabbing whatever clothes were at the top of her drawer before running out to meet Jimmy. He’d tease her about mismatched socks or a lopsided ponytail, but she never cared. Those moments were easy, simple, unburdened by thought or worry.

Now, things had changed.

Joni stood in front of the mirror each morning, brushing her hair until it shone, carefully choosing outfits that felt just right. She wasn’t sure who she was dressing for—herself, her friends, or maybe someone she hadn’t even met yet. Either way, it mattered now. She dabbed on the strawberry lip gloss she’d begged her mom to buy, liking the way it shimmered on her lips.

She still saw Jimmy every morning as they walked to school together, but the conversations felt different. Jimmy would talk about his latest adventures with his high school friends or the funny things that happened during football practice, and Joni would listen politely, nodding along. She still laughed at his jokes, but they didn’t feel as funny as they used to.

Instead, her thoughts were often elsewhere—on the new activities she’d joined or the goals she was setting for herself.

It all started when she saw a flyer in the school hallway: “Join the Dance Team! No experience necessary!”

Joni hadn’t given it much thought at first. She had never considered herself a dancer. But something about the idea intrigued her. She pictured herself moving to music, learning routines, and performing in front of an audience. It was terrifying and exciting all at once.

When she mentioned it to her mom at dinner, her mom’s eyes lit up. “You should try it, Joni,” she said. “It sounds like fun, and you’ve always loved music.”

Her dad chimed in, teasingly. “Just don’t make us come to a recital where you’ll make us cry with those emotional dances!”

Joni laughed, rolling her eyes, but the encouragement gave her the push she needed. The next day, she signed up.

Dance practice quickly became her favorite part of the week. At first, she was awkward, tripping over her own feet and struggling to keep up with the more experienced girls. But she stuck with it, determined to improve. She loved the challenge, the feeling of accomplishment when she finally nailed a move she’d been practicing for days.

The dance team wasn’t the only thing that captured her attention. At lunch one day, she overheard some classmates talking about the school newspaper. They were brainstorming ideas for articles, and Joni couldn’t help but eavesdrop. She had always loved writing, and the idea of contributing to something that everyone at school would read excited her.

Without hesitation, she signed up for the newspaper club too.

Her days quickly filled up. Between dance practice, newspaper meetings, and her usual schoolwork, Joni found herself busier than ever. But she loved it. She felt like she was finally discovering who she was—beyond just being the girl who lived next door to Jimmy.

Jimmy.

Joni’s relationship with him was changing too, though not in a way she fully understood. For as long as she could remember, Jimmy had been the center of her world. He was her best friend, her confidant, the person who always made her feel safe and cared for. But now, things felt... different.

Jimmy was fifteen, a high schooler with his own set of friends, interests, and experiences. Joni still saw him often, but their time together felt less natural, less easy. When they talked, it felt like they were speaking different languages—his filled with stories about high school antics and inside jokes she didn’t understand, hers centered on her new clubs and activities that didn’t seem to interest him.

One day after school, Jimmy caught up to her as she was leaving the newspaper room. “Hey, where’ve you been?” he asked, falling into step beside her.

Joni adjusted her bag on her shoulder. “Dance practice ran late, and then I had a meeting for the newspaper.”

Jimmy raised an eyebrow. “The newspaper? Since when do you care about that?”

Joni frowned. “I’ve always cared about writing. You just never noticed.”

He looked at her, confused. “Why are you so defensive? I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“Whatever,” Joni muttered, picking up her pace.

Jimmy grabbed her arm gently, stopping her. “Hey, what’s going on? You’ve been so weird lately. We barely hang out anymore.”

Joni sighed, pulling her arm free. “I’m not being weird, Jimmy. I’m just... busy. I have my own stuff now.”

“Since when do you need ‘stuff’?” he asked, his tone frustrated. “You used to care about hanging out with me.”

“I still care!” Joni snapped. “But I’m not a little kid anymore, Jimmy. I can’t spend all my time chasing after you.”

Jimmy’s face fell, and Joni immediately regretted her words. But she didn’t take them back. Instead, she walked away, leaving him standing there.

The truth was, she didn’t want to hurt him. But she also didn’t want to hold herself back. She was finally starting to figure out who she was, and she couldn’t let anyone—not even Jimmy—stop her from growing.

Over the next few weeks, Joni threw herself even more into her new activities. Dance practice became her sanctuary, a place where she could lose herself in the music and forget about everything else. She loved the way her body felt strong and capable, the way she could express herself through movement.

The newspaper club gave her a sense of purpose. She loved interviewing teachers and students, writing articles, and seeing her work published. It made her feel like she was contributing to something meaningful.

Her relationship with Jimmy continued to grow more distant. They still saw each other occasionally, but their conversations were short and strained. Jimmy seemed hurt, and Joni didn’t know how to fix it. She wasn’t even sure if she wanted to.

One Saturday afternoon, Joni sat in her room, flipping through a notebook filled with dance routines she was trying to memorize. Her mom knocked on the door and poked her head in.

“Hey, sweetheart,” her mom said. “Jimmy’s outside. He wants to talk to you.”

Joni hesitated. “Tell him I’m busy.”

Her mom frowned. “Joni, don’t you think you’re being a little hard on him? He’s been your best friend for years.”

“I know,” Joni said quietly. “But things are different now. He doesn’t get it.”

Her mom sighed but didn’t push her. “Okay. But don’t forget how much he’s always meant to you.”

Joni nodded, watching her mom leave. She felt a pang of guilt but shook it off. She had worked too hard to build this new version of herself, and she wasn’t going to let anyone pull her back.

As the months went on, Joni and Jimmy drifted further apart. She missed him sometimes—the way he used to make her laugh, the way he always knew how to cheer her up. But she told herself it was for the best.

She was growing up.

And growing up meant moving forward.

Still, late at night, when the house was quiet, Joni sometimes found herself staring out her bedroom window at Jimmy’s house next door. She wondered if he was doing the same, if he missed her as much as she missed him.

But she never let herself dwell on it for too long. There was too much ahead of her to look back now.

For the first time in her life, Joni felt like she was truly finding herself. And even though it was hard, even though it hurt, she knew she was on the right path.

She was becoming her own person.

And that was worth everything.