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Whenever Darren Lopez heard the song What What Might Have Been by country music band Little Texas,

his mind wandered and he began to reminisce.

In the song, the narrator laments to a former romantic partner about the fact that he can not change

the past, and there's no way of knowing what their relationship might have become.

Darren was drawn to the thoughtful lyrics, which includes become. and wonder why we didn't last. Yes, they might be the best days we will ever know, but we'll

have to leave them in the past.

Darren first heard what might have been in 1996 after returning home from military

deployment in South Korea. The song evoked happy memories of his youth in

Arizona, specifically of his high school sweetheart, Jennifer Nichols.

The pair had met when they were both 15 in their school's jazz band and maintained a mutual friendship for several years

until a three-week-long school trip to Europe brought them closer together.

By the end of that first week, Darren and Jennifer were officially boyfriend and girlfriend.

They shared their first kiss under the Eiffel Tower.

From then on, the pair were inseparable.

Jennifer admired Darren's politeness, his organizational skills, and the way he made her feel so safe.

They attended prom together, Jennifer in a sleeveless red dress and Darren in a suit with a red

tie to match. As they entered college they shared hopes that they would one day

...