Seven Years Ago Today Zayn Left One Direction And Our Lives Changed Forever

In the many years we’ve been friends, I’ve hugged my best friend maybe 3 times. The first time was on this day 7 years ago when I walked into our study hall, seconds after finding out Zayn left One Direction. Condolences to those who also observe this sad day
— Lord shortman hams (@shortman_hams) March 25, 2022

There are times you remember exactly where you were when news broke. One of those prominent ones for me was where I was when Zayn left One Direction.

I was in my freshman year of high school, I was walking to my study hall on the third floor of my high school. As I was walking in my mom texted me a screenshot of the Facebook post announcing that Zayn was leaving One Direction. I walked into that classroom in disbelief, as One Direction was my entire world at this point. There was my now best friend, already tearing up, and I walked up to her, didn’t say a word, and hugged her. And from that moment on, I cried for no less than 72 hours straight.

Me and my best friend (her name is Hannah, hi Hannah) sent countless Snapchats of us just cry yelling. And that was the time when you couldn’t send a minute-long snap, it was no less than 5,000 10-second videos of two 15-year-old girls crying because a member of our boy band left. Am I ashamed? Not at all. One Direction still owns my soul. I just went to a concert, alone, in Chicago to see Louis. I’d do anything for them to this day.

Off-track-

I talked to more people on March 25th, 2015 than in my entire high school career. I was giving people my sympathies in the hall. It was pandemonium. However, looking back, I see why he left. I am the same age he was then and I cannot imagine living like that.

However, I memorialize this day with my fellow Directioners to remember a defining moment when all of our lives changed. It was a coming-of-age moment for all of us. It made us the people we are today. So to celebrate/commiserate, here are some of the edits I sobbed over after Zayn left: