Chapter 1 Summer of 24's
The heat clung to my skin like a memory I couldn’t shake.
It was the first day of summer, but it didn’t feel like one. The sun was shining, the waves were crashing, and the world kept spinning like nothing had changed — but everything had.
I stood at the edge of the boardwalk, watching tourists and locals pass by with sticky ice cream fingers and tangled headphones. Laughter filled the air, but none of it felt like mine. Not anymore.
Because he was gone.
We said goodbye under this same sky, just a week ago. No fireworks, no dramatic tears — just a simple, “Take care, okay?” like we hadn’t spent every sunset wrapped in each other’s arms. Like he hadn’t told me he’d stay. Like I hadn’t believed him.
Now every part of this town reminds me of him.
The beach still smells like sunscreen and coconut, but it’s missing the scent of his cologne. The diner still serves strawberry milkshakes, but I only ever shared them with him. Even the wind feels quieter without him
