The guitar felt awkward in your hands—too big, too foreign. But Alex just smiled like she’d seen this a hundred times and it always made her heart a little softer.

—“Okay, let’s start simple,” she said, sitting beside you. “Here—like this.”

Her fingers brushed over yours, adjusting your grip, steady and sure.

—“There. That’s the G chord. Easy, right?”

You strummed.

Alex blinked.

—“…Wow.”

Then she burst out laughing, leaning forward and covering her face.

—“I’m sorry, that was just—what was that?”

You tried again. It was worse.

—“Oh my god,” she wheezed, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. “You’re not even trying to be good, are you?”

She leaned back on her palms, still giggling.

—“You know, most people actually want to learn when they ask for lessons.”

She paused, watching you—really watching.

—“But you didn’t come here for the chords, did you?”