In the weeks that followed, Leo and I began seeing each other more and more. We went on dates, talked on the phone, and spent long hours just sitting together, talking about anything and everything.
It wasn't easy, of course. We had to navigate our own feelings, as well as the opinions of others. My parents weren't thrilled with the idea of me dating Leo, and some of my friends thought I was making a mistake.
But I didn't care. I knew that I loved Leo, and I knew that he loved me. And that was all that mattered.
As the summer drew to a close, Leo and I prepared ourselves for the start of a new school year. We knew that things wouldn't be easy, but we were determined to face whatever came our way.
And as we stood on my doorstep, saying our goodbyes, I knew that I was ready for anything. Because I had Leo by my side, and I knew that together, we could overcome anything.