01
The shimmering stars speckled the onyx blanket above them. Seeping from behind the clouds, the moonlight glistened onto the open water in the distance, revealing the brewing rip currents. And in front of them, with their feet implanted in the cooling sand, the ocean waves crashed violently against each other- almost masking the sounds of crackling wood from the bonfire behind - reminding each and every one of them why they were here.
It was mesmerizing, the way the ocean called to them as if it were a siren and they were the sailors drawn by her song. But now she revealed her ugly truth- she was a monster who captivated and swallowed her victims whole.
They used to believe that they were a gestalt. And that was a dumb thought really.
The reality was they were all expected to start college in the early fall. Destined to go their own direction and like most childhood friends do, likely grow apart.
As the cold breeze gusts, she bit her bottom lip to hold in the burning wail that sat in her throat as she thought about his missing presence. He was dead. His heart had halted, lungs filled with salty water, and the boat was somewhere under the surface. And none of them knew what to do.
They didn’t know how to react.
The echo of his cries rang in her ears, hearing it scream her name as his hand clenched onto her wrist so tight - almost snapping it. It had been weeks since the accident and yet the bruises from his fingertips still left a greenish imprint on her skin. She shivered at the thought, pulling the sleeve of her sweater down to cover the remainder of her creamy hands. All those shrieks, all that thunder and lightning that thrashed the sky, disrupting the cool waves forcing the ship to become engulfed by the vicious billows.
And now, as the waves crash to the surface, they hold hands - the six of the once seven of them - staring off into the invisible horizon. The waves were slowly dying down, settling in sadness because it knew what it had done to them. It had stolen a sacrifice, a meal for its siren, when it had crept its way into their hearts just to drown it in one sudden action forever changing in their eyes.
With a small squeeze, they released their hands from each other and sat in the freezing sand. Their legs had grown tired, and their hands were nearly purple from the chilly breeze. The silence continued to be filled by the easing current and crackles of burning wood that was gradually dying out as its light that casted their shadows began to disappear. Tomorrow, this is officially over. He would be buried and this once peaceful paradise will soon be forgotten and forced to become a hazy, if not painful, remembrance.
Unsettled by the stillness, she gazed over to look at the others- all still staring straight forward in an unwavering state - intentionally avoiding each other. “This is the last time we will all be together like this”, she thought, feeling the sorrow deep within her stomach. They would have to move on, and he would just be a shadow of their past.
She didn’t have the heart to tell them that she was leaving. The panging guilt sat in her chest, believing that she was essentially abandoning them and him - a corpse, the shell of a person that was already rotting away.
Without a second thought, she glanced over to his brother, who had laid down beside her. His long legs were stretched out against the sand while his folded arms provided cushion at the nape of his neck. His dark copper hair was disheveled and rested against the hood of his blue sweater, the tip of his nose was bright pink from the cold, and his caramel eyes scanned the stars as if searching for a hidden answer.
He had a bit of stubble growing, she noticed, which was unusual for him. His lush lips remained closed and straight; reluctant to release the sound of his deep voice. And it dawned on her, she couldn’t recall the last time she had heard it.
Acknowledging that she was watching him, he squirmed - unwillingly to make eye contact. His jaw clenched, exposing his sharp jawline that she could easily outline with her finger. There had been plenty of times in the past that she had joked with him about being a model, but he had brushed her off at that ridiculous thought.
Gradually, he rose pulling his knees up to his chest. His eyes still hesitant to match hers- remained concentrated on the sand between his legs while his hands began to ball into tight fists. As he released the tension in his palms, his knuckles shifted from white to deep purple, exposing the fresh bruises. Her brows narrowed at the sight. She could only imagine what objects he must have been hitting to get those.
“Jace, I-,” she began to whisper as she reached out to place her hand on his forearm, desperate to provide comfort and reassurance. Hopeless for forgiveness.
Like a frightened animal, he recoiled away from her and leaped to his feet. In awe, she stared at him when he finally locked eyes for a brief second and she saw it all. Again, she reached her hand out to grasp his. But she knew it was pointless, she had seen the mental battle in those caramel orbs before he snapped away - deciding to put distance between them by heading straight for the water.
In shire anger and hatred and sadness, he ran into the calm water as it, the ocean, were accepting his outrage in punishment. His khaki pants dampened whenthe waves lightly crashed into him almost as if they were trying to hug him- trying to apologize for what they had done. His arms were swinging as he moved deeper into the abyss. His lips parted freeing the once soothing deep voice that was caged inside - shouting words of spite only for them to be masked by his sobs.
Her heart ached, but she did nothing. This was pain. It was bound to be felt.
