I quietly watched her as she faced the lake. After a moment, a blue-and-black butterfly drifted toward her on the gentle morning breeze. She slowly lifted a finger, and the butterfly gracefully settled on it as though it had known her all its life. A soft smile spread across her face as she brought it closer, whispering to it as if it could understand every word she said. For a brief moment, it felt as though the butterfly truly was listening.
Then I heard her speak.
"Are you enjoying the view... watching me?" Her voice carried a teasing tone.
I froze.
I hadn't even realized how long I had been standing there, staring at her. I quickly cleared my throat, looked around awkwardly, then met her gaze again.
"H-Hi! I'm Ace... Ace Hernandez. I just wanted to thank you for saving me from drowning in that lake a few months ago."
I spoke sincerely.
She let the butterfly fly away before looking back at me. She stepped down from the rock, resting her hands behind her back. She looked so innocent and adorable as she slowly walked toward me. Her curious eyes scanned me from head to toe. Then she circled around me once, examining me with a playful smile.
"How can you be sure it was me?" she asked.
"Because of the sunflower," I replied. "You had sunflower petals in your hair."
Her eyes immediately lit up.
"You caught me!" she giggled as she stepped closer, studying my face. "You kind of look like an old friend of mine."
She smiled warmly.
"Anyway, I'm Isabella Gomez. I live nearby. And yes... you were looking for the right person. You're welcome."
She turned to leave. Before I could think, the words slipped out of my mouth.
"Are you interested in... maybe a book? Or anything you want?"
I mentally cursed myself for blurting it out.
"Don't get me wrong," I quickly added. "It's just... my way of thanking you... Isabel."
She suddenly stopped walking and slowly turned to face me. Her eyes sparkled with childlike wonder, shining with pure excitement. A bright, cheerful smile spread across her face as she hurried back toward me, her happiness so genuine that it seemed to brighten the quiet forest around us.
"Isabel?" she repeated happily. "I like that nickname."
She tilted her head.
"And you said... anything?"
"Yes," I answered without hesitation. "Anything."
The moment those words left my lips, I realized I truly meant them. She had saved my life. If it hadn't been for her, I wouldn't be standing here today. That simple truth settled deep within my heart, filling me with a gratitude I couldn't put into words. For the first time in a long while, I understood just how much one person could change another's life without ever asking for anything in return.