𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐭 || 𝐙𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐧 [𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐝]

1- Forever

Hayden, 7 years old

It was quite chilly to be wearing my favorite denim blue dress in the middle of October, but I didn't care. My small red sweater was keeping me warm.

I liked to walk around in the large field of grass at school during recess. In the fall, I'd walk around and try not to get hit with the kickball, and in the spring, I'd pick blooming dandelions and tie them into crowns.

My best friend, Zach Herron, was always there for me. We had been friends since before we could remember. He'd help me dodge the kickball that was flying right at me in the fall and help me collect dandelions for my crown in the spring. And best of all, he liked my blue denim dress just as much as I did.

This October was the same as every other one. Well, almost.

I was walking around in the grass at recess as usual. Zach was right behind me as he always was. We walked on fallen leaves and we giggled as they crunched beneath our toes.

As we walked, I looked around and observed the other kids outside. They were all playing and having fun. The kids playing hopscotch on the blacktop, the girls gossiping by the oak tree, and the boys playing tag on the jungle gym. Then beneath one of the play sets, I saw two people, a boy and a girl. They were alone and seemed happy to be with each other. They got close to each other and hugged. I could tell they were best friends. They reminded me of Zach and I. We were close too, and I never wanted to lose that.

"Tell me we'll be best friends forever," I said, taking a seat on a bench next to the blacktop.

"I promise," he said, sitting down next to me. His hair blew in the wind and his eyes reflected the sun, giving them a perfect glow.

"What if you can't keep that promise?" I asked.

"Then I'll be so sad. Not because I broke a promise, but because we won't be friends."

"Do you love me?"

"Of course I love you, Hayden. You are my best friend. When we're eighteen, if you don't have a boyfriend and I don't have a girlfriend, I'll make sure to say I love you but as your boyfriend, not just your best friend. Okay?"

"Okay, Zach," I smiled. "I probably won't have a boyfriend because boys are gross. Except you. I can't wait until we're eighteen."

He reached out with his little fingers and grabbed my hand. He held it there until recess was over. In that moment, time didn't move. It felt like forever. I hoped it was forever. Me and my best friend would be together forever.