He took me to the hospital for a check-up, and I had a slight concussion, but my face still hurt badly. After the treatment, I saw three people with swollen, bruised faces, trying to avoid Zachary’s gaze.
“Madeline, your name sounds beautiful. I’m Zachary,” he said with warm, sincere eyes and a bright smile. That day, Zachary and I started to become close.
From then on, Zachary started being a bigger part of my life. Even though I didn’t have many friends, someone was finally willing to talk to me. Somehow, he found out about my birthday and invited me to watch the sunrise together.
The morning light was golden, spreading warmth beneath my eyelids.
“Madeline, let me protect you from now on,” Zachary said with a smile, pulling out a small, delicate box from his backpack. Inside was a necklace engraved with our initials. The sunlight made everything feel magical, and Zachary’s ears turned a little red. He hugged me, his eyes filled with affection, and gently brushed his lips against mine.
That day, Zachary and I officially became a couple.
“Madeline!”
I snapped back to reality and saw a young, cheerful face waving at me. It was someone I didn’t know.