It hits you without warning the minute you step out of the station.

I wasn’t even paying attention—I think we were in the middle of a conversation or I was trying to put my wallet back into my bag, but then I look up, and boom.

Oh, no big deal. Just two thousand years of history staring right back at me.

Trips to historical monuments are always the same for me: I stop, stare, smile. Sometimes thisclose to tears, but mostly just staring. Taking it all in.

Then I can’t help but smile. That silly, crush-just-texted-me kinda smile that you can’t wipe off your face even if you tried.

I’m in a daze until my cousin taps my shoulder. “Yo. I think we need to line up. God, it’s kinda busy today…”

Shhhhh. Let me have my moment.

Okay, let’s go.