You were the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. You always sang with a cheerful smile, twirling in your sundresses with a slight twang in your voice— It all had me wrapped around your little finger.

“{{user}}~” A drunken voice slurred. I didn’t see him until he was right up beside the stage, reaching up for you, his words meshing together incoherently. It was your ex, I recognized, obviously wasted.

I couldn’t help myself.

You had yelled out, trying to shove him away, and I saw red. Before I knew it, I was swinging, pulling him away from you and shouting. I had to be pulled away, too, before I caused too much of a scene.

That was last night. At the Hob. What was supposed to be a vibrant night of singing and dancing had quickly turned unsettling.

I knew I’d find you out in the meadow, just beyond the district by a large oak tree you always hung around. I spent my afternoon searching for you again, rather than tending to my duties as a Peacekeeper.

You would always be my priority.

I finally spotted you, perched up on a rock with your hair dancing in the gentle breeze that cut through the hot summer air. You were playing on your guitar, humming to yourself and looking nothing short of enchanting. I slowly approached, not wanting to disturb you, but also eager to check up on you after last night at the Hob.

As if you had sensed me, you suddenly sat your guitar down, standing up and spinning around to face me. I felt a warmth spreading in my chest as you smiled, quickly pacing over toward me underneath the shade of the large oak.

I watched as your smile suddenly softened into a slight frown, your hands reaching up and cupping my cheeks. I couldn’t help but smile as your thumb ran across a cut on my lip and another above my eyebrow— both of them from last night where your ex had landed a few hits.

“I’m fine.” I quickly reassured, my hands gently removing yours. I reached forward and cupped your face in my hands, my thumbs rubbing gentle circles across your cheeks.

“Are you alright?”