Untold Story

Chapter Three: The Weight Beneath the Water

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Trigger Warning:
This chapter contains depictions of alcohol use, trauma flashbacks, domestic abuse, psychological distress, near-drowning, and supernatural elements. Reader discretion is advised.
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Evelyn's POV

I kept walking, the gravel crunching underfoot as I tried to process everything we had just heard. The air felt cooler now, and the wind tugged at my jacket. Ethan, still walking beside me, broke the silence.

"What do you think about the story?" he asked, slipping the camera and mic into his bag. The sun had dipped behind the mountains, casting long shadows over the path.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't know... I don't like how they romanticize her death. It's one thing to have a tragic love story, but it's another to make it seem like suicide is some kind of noble sacrifice for love." I kicked a small stone along the path, watching it bounce. "It's like they're glorifying it, making it seem like she did the right thing by giving up everything for him."

Ethan walked beside me, his expression thoughtful. "Yeah, it's a bit... intense. I mean, the whole thing is kind of twisted, isn't it? She's waiting for someone who doesn't even love her anymore. It's more like obsession than love. And the fact that she couldn't accept it... that he loved someone else-it's like she was living in this fantasy where if she just gave up everything, it would somehow bring them back together."

I nodded, feeling a weight settle on my chest. "Exactly. That's the problem with stories like this. They make it seem like love means giving up everything, even your life. But that's not real love. It's not healthy. Love isn't supposed to destroy you. And romanticizing suicide like this... it sends the wrong message. It makes people think that if they lose one person, everything else is worthless. But that's just not true. There's so much more to life than just one person's love. People can love their family, their friends, and even themselves. Just because one person doesn't love you back doesn't mean you should give up on life."

I stopped walking for a moment, feeling the cool breeze on my skin. The wind had picked up a little, making the leaves rustle in the trees. Ethan didn't say anything for a moment, just kept walking beside me, letting the words sink in. It was quiet, except for the faint hum of the evening breeze.

"Yeah," he said after a while, his voice softer now. "I get what you mean. It's like they're telling people that love can fix everything-even if it costs you your life. But that's not the message we should be sending. Love should make you feel whole, not make you feel like you're nothing without it."

I sighed, my breath visible in the cool air. "Exactly. People need to understand that love doesn't come at the expense of your own life. No one's love should make you feel like you have to destroy yourself for it."

Ethan nodded in agreement, his steps slowing as we approached Jame's house. "I guess, in a way, we can't really blame her for thinking that way, though. I mean, if that's what she was taught... that a man's love was the most important thing, maybe she didn't know any other way to cope."

"Yeah, maybe," I said quietly, looking up at the sky as the last light of the sun slipped below the horizon. "It's all about what you're taught, right? If you're taught that your worth depends on someone else's love, then... I guess you might believe that love is worth any cost."