A Shy Kiss

You know that feeling when you're stuck in a waiting room and it feels like time has decided to take a permanent vacation? Welcome to my life! My name's August Moon, and I'm pretty sure I'm the only 13-year-old who spends more time in a hospital gown than in jeans. Trust me, they're not exactly fashion-forward.

Today, I'm slouched in a plastic chair that should come with a "Do Not Sit" sign-my butt is officially on strike. I can hear the beeping of machines and the soft whispers of doctors discussing things I wish I could un-hear. Apparently, "dilated cardiomyopathy" sounds a lot cooler than it feels. Spoiler alert: it's not cool at all.

My parents are having one of their "let's pretend to be a happy family" moments. It's like a badly directed play, with my dad trying to make awkward jokes while my mom rolls her eyes so hard I'm surprised they don't get stuck. If I had a dollar for every time I wished they'd just get along for my sake, I'd have enough to buy my way out of this hospital.

But just when I think I'm in for another boring day of medical drama, she walks in. Alyssa. The girl who turns my world upside down with a single glance. She's 16, but don't let the age fool you-she's got the spirit of a thousand fireflies and the beauty of a summer sunset. And me? I'm just the guy in the too-small hospital gown, hoping to make her laugh.

The first time I met Alyssa, she was reading a book in the corner of the waiting room, completely oblivious to the chaos around her. I mean, who reads in a place like this? But as I watched her, I realized she was escaping a different kind of reality-one that felt all too familiar to me.

Little did I know, our lives were about to collide in ways neither of us could have imagined. Spoiler alert: there's a lot of laughter, a sprinkle of heartbreak, and-yes-a shy kiss waiting just around the corner.