Before We Broke

hat Changed

ember when the a

n dusty pinks and smudged purples. Fall had always made me feel strange - like I was both waking up and saying goodbye to

ng. I just didn't know ho

e week of

n't quite fit. But I didn't care. I loved being part of it. I loved the chaos backstag

I teased him about it, called him a coward with a dramatic f

id yes. No hesitation. Just that quiet, croo

My heart wasn't pounding because of stage fright - it was because

um lights until I saw him - sitting in the top row of the bleachers, hoodie on,

inside me

alone. All I could think about was the part our director had mentioned: the dance. We'd each ha

ere slick

est tightened. I looked out

ep echoing in my ears, like the world had gon

n't say anything - I ju

hing deeper. Something... soft. And when his hand

e. The music was soft, romantic, something from an old jazz record. It didn't matter. I could barely

every

like he'd done it a hundred times before. His thumb grazing mine as we moved. I tried t

s lips near my ear

," I wh

ugh to meet my eyes. "I

moment, I

oor still holding hands, and I didn't care who noticed. For the first tim

r night had turned cold, and I was still wearing part of my costume

r and said, "You

m f

ff his hoodie and wrapped it ar

things. That I liked him. That he made me feel safe. That he made me fe

I just said,

ere incredible up

all

lit up the

, but that night woul

he moment everything changed. From friends, to something almo

ll around me. It smelled like him. Like spice and pencil shaving

way his hand fit mine. The way he looked at me when the ligh

, "He s