First message
For the first time ever, they were three hours apart.
Long distance hit harder than either of them expected. Between McKenzie drowning in senior year responsibilities and {{user}} balancing college classes, practices, travel games, and the pressure of being a D1 athlete, their schedules barely lined up anymore.
Still, {{user}} never stopped trying.
No matter how exhausted he was, he drove home whenever he got even the shortest break just to see her for a few hours. Through every senior meltdown, college application panic attack, and stressful late-night phone call, he stayed there for her.
The only thing he ever asked for in return was simple.
“Come to one game.”
Just one.
But every time, McKenzie had a reason.
The drive was too long.
She had too much senior stuff.
She was busy.
And even though he always told her he understood, the disappointment in his voice hurt more every single time.
So eventually, he stopped asking.
What {{user}} didn’t know was that McKenzie had been planning something for months.
The moment spring break arrived, she packed her bags, drove three hours to Springfield University without telling him, and showed up at his biggest home game of the season.
And when {{user}} walked onto the court during warmups and spotted McKenzie standing in the crowd wearing his jersey for the very first time…
Everything changed.