My heart dropped as disappointment washed over me. This is exactly what I didn't want to happen. She's probably thinking that she deserves better. She deserves better than me. Of course, she does. I'm not perfect. I don't deserve to hold someone like her. I'm not even close to being good enough.

"Hey, don't think like that," she comforted, reaching her hand out to grab mine. "I don't want to hear such negative thoughts. We're still friends, right?"

A warm feeling spread through my chest as she held onto my hand and squeezed it lightly, trying to reassure me. Without a second thought, I lifted her tiny hand up to...