Hearts Like Ours

The Cliff

I can't do this any more, he likes someone else. I'm not good enough for him. I take a step. I'm done being nervous. I take a deep breath and I jump. 

- 3 weeks prior-

The cold dark ocean is ten meters from my feet, should I jump? Ahhhh why did I let Liam drag me into this. "Liam are you sure, we could die?"
"Come on Jessie, live a little." I roll my eyes and grab his hand. 
"Let's just do this," I say with a shaky breath.
We jump.

The dark unforgiving ocean envelops me in inky blackness.  I start kicking up, up, up.
"See fun" smirked Liam. I glare at him. "I guess that's a no then."
We start to walk home and I slip my hand into his, this isn't an uncommon thing, Liam will get me to do something dangerous and then he will calm me as we walk home. I wasn't always like this, I was like Liam but that changed ten years ago when Liam and I were 6 years old. Our dads were firefighters, they went to go help in the Black Summer bushfires (2020 for anyone here who isn't aussie) and they never came back. Liam and I had met a couple times but we never hung out. We're 16 now and he is the best friend I have ever known.

We get to our houses and part ways, my mum moved from Leeton to Manly after dad died and now we live next to Liam. I smell a delicious spaghetti, mum's classic and dry my hair. I can hear my littler brother playing on his PS6, he's 10. School starts tomorrow so at least I'll be busy and won't have to do stupidly dangerous things with Liam anymore.

257 words.