𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐈𝐃𝐒 𝐀𝐓 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐓 ― rafe cameron

πενήνταπέντε ; 55

song of the chapter:
SPARKS ; coldplay

Margarita stood at the edge of the dock, staring out at the water as the sun dipped lower, casting hues of orange and pink across the sky. The gentle breeze carried the scent of salt and summer, but tonight, it didn't feel calming. It felt like a reminder that everything was moving forward, while she stood stuck in the same place.

Her phone buzzed in her hand, but she ignored it, her thumb brushing against the lock screen without unlocking it. She already knew who it was—Rafe, probably wondering where she'd gone. It had been days since their night together, the moment they'd both waited for finally arriving. She'd said yes, letting herself fall into him, believing that maybe—just maybe—things could be different this time.

But now? Now the darkness crept back in, inching its way into her mind like it always did, casting doubt on everything.

The dock swayed slightly beneath her feet, the sound of the waves lapping against the wood filling the silence. It was quiet here, away from the noise of her thoughts, away from the questions she couldn't answer. She could still hear Rafe's voice in her head, soft and full of promises. I don't want anyone else. His words had felt real, like they'd soaked into her bones that night.

But why couldn't she let herself believe them? Why did every ounce of happiness come with the reminder that it could all be ripped away?

She sighed, sitting down on the dock and pulling her knees to her chest. The phone buzzed again. This time, she glanced at the screen.

Rafey
Where are you?
Are you okay?

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, but she didn't reply. Instead, she slipped the phone into her back pocket, feeling the familiar tug of wanting to disappear, wanting to be alone in a place where no one expected her to smile, to explain why she was pulling away again.

The sound of footsteps broke her thoughts, and she stiffened, expecting Rafe. But it wasn't him. It was Sarah.

"Hey," Sarah said quietly, as if sensing the fragile state Margarita was in.

Margarita didn't turn around, just stared at the water, her body tense. "What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you," Sarah admitted, sitting down beside her on the dock, legs swinging over the edge. "Rafe's worried."

Margarita let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "He shouldn't be."

"He cares about you," Sarah replied softly, glancing sideways at her. "We all do."

Margarita finally turned to face her, her green eyes darkened by the weight she carried. "Caring doesn't fix anything. It never does."

Sarah didn't push, didn't argue. She just sat there, the silence stretching between them like the miles Margarita had tried to put between herself and everyone else.

"I know you're going through something," Sarah said after a while, her voice steady but careful. "But you don't have to do it alone."

Margarita clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. "That's the thing, Sarah. I've always been alone."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The waves crashed against the dock, the sun continuing its slow descent. Sarah opened her mouth to say something, but Margarita stood abruptly, her voice cutting through the quiet.

"You don't get it. None of you do."

Before Sarah could respond, Margarita was already walking away, her feet quick on the wooden planks, leaving her friend and the unanswered questions behind. She didn't know where she was going, but she needed to get away.