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Ethan laughed.
“I’m twelve.”
“Exactly.”
“You really think I’ll be successful someday?”
“I know you will.”
Her confidence felt impossible.
Nobody had ever believed in him like that before.
Not even himself.
After a long silence, Ethan spoke.
“When I’m rich, I’ll marry you.”
Maya burst out laughing.
“You will?”
“Absolutely.”
“That’s your big plan?”
“Yep.”
“What if I don’t want to marry you?”
Ethan grinned.
“You will.”
She rolled her eyes.
But secretly, she smiled.
Then she held out her hand.
“Deal.”
He shook it.
Neither child understood how important that moment would become.
Life Pulls Them Apart
The years passed quickly.
Middle school became high school.
High school became graduation.
Life grew more complicated.
Maya excelled academically.
Ethan worked every part-time job he could find.
They remained close despite busy schedules.
But shortly after graduation, life intervened.
Maya earned a scholarship several states away.
