22 FIRST DATE

I wasn't able to return to school after the incident. We went to the clinic, and Zachary felt so guilty when he saw the bruises on my side. He apologized repeatedly, with his eyes brimmed with tears. My heart broke seeing the Zachary Anderson that everyone feared looked so vulnerable, like a child wiping his tears with the back of his hand, and kept apologizing.

"I'm not mad. I already forgive you," I whispered and wiped his tears. He sobbed and lowered his head. I sighed and pulled him into my embrace, and let him lean his head on my shoulder. Í softly pat his back as he silently cries with his arms wrapped around me.

We arrived home, and he stayed by my side after he applied the ointment that the Doctor had given me earlier wherever I went. Before, it would surely annoy me, but now I smile and don't comment about it. I understand now why he is like this.

"What are you reading?" He asked. We were in the living room now. Only the two of us were inside the house because Jason returned