What Really Matters

One

This is the first summer I remember well.

I fell down. It wasn't a bad scrape, but the 5 year old me considered it to be the end of the world. I started bawling my eyes out even though I knew no one was around to hear me. Up until that moment I remembered thinking that I was such a brave kid, venturing out on my tike, despite explicit instructions to stay in sight of the house. Unfortunately for me, my plans of rebelling were derailed by a crack I hadn't noticed, and it had sent me flying. Caught up in the stinging pain on my knees and the hot tears streaming down my face, I hadn't noticed the pounding of feet coming closer until the boy was right in front of me. He smiled at me, making me cry even harder than before, but he ignored my sobbing and pulled me up on my feet. One hand gripped my hand, and the other gently wheeled along the tike as we slowly made our direction towards home. The boy kept glancing over at me even as the tears began to subside, but chose not to saying anything else as we walked. He stopped outside of a house next to mine to leave my tike in the yard, and I was still frazzled by what had just happened that I couldn't even muster a protest as he lead me into the house. We made our way to the kitchen, where a woman I assumed was his mother exclaimed at the sight of the boy and an unfamiliar girl with partially dried blood down her legs.

"Justin, who is this?"

"I'm not sure" he started tentatively "There was crying and I wanted to help and I dunno what happened but I brought her here."

"Well, I'm glad I've raised you to want to help others." Justin beamed as his mother knelt down in front of us. "What's your name, sweetie?"

"Th-thalia." I managed to stutter out after a few seconds.

"Well, we can clean you up and take you home. Do you know where you live?" I nodded slowly.

"I live next door."

"Well that makes things easier! We should get you back, your parents are probably worried! I know I would be." I nodded, and she took my hand. In five steps, we were outside the front door.

"Mommy!" I cried.

"Oh honey, what happened to you? I just went inside for a glass of water a minute ago and you already managed to hurt yourself?" my mom spoke as she wrapped her arms around me. The only response I had was to burst into tears again. After a little while, I managed to calm down.

"Thank you so much!" she said, turning toward Justin's mom.

"Oh it was all him." she replied as she ruffled his black mop of hair.

"In that case, thank you, charming, for rescuing my princess." 

This was the summer we became inseparable.

Author's Note

Hello all! I am totally new to this and it's turned out to be more daunting than I expected. I greatly appreciate anyone who's taken the time to read this, and if anyone would be willing to give any comments or suggestions that would be fantastic! Thank you in advance :)