Born To Die

I guilt trip a god

I ran. My legs were pumping as fast as they could carry me, pushing through the trees, the camp, away from Apollo and his cruel words. I couldn't breathe, couldn't think. The sting of his touch still burned on my skin, his words echoing in my mind. Nothing lasts forever.

I needed to get away. Needed to clear my head.

I didn't even know where I was going until I found myself at the beach. The cool, salty air hit my face, making me pause for just a moment, breathless and exhausted. The water lapped at the shore in gentle waves, rhythmic and soothing. But my thoughts were far from calm.

Luke. His absence felt like a physical ache in my chest.

The sound of someone approaching broke through my clouded mind. I wiped my tears away quickly, embarrassed, but the voice I heard wasn't the one I expected.

"Isla?"

I turned sharply, startled to see Percy standing there. He was holding a few cans of Coke, a little grin on his face. But when his eyes landed on me, the smile faltered, and his expression shifted to something more concerned. I had been so caught up in my emotions, I didn't even realize how close I was to him until now.

"Hey," I whispered, wiping my cheeks again, but it didn't do much to hide the redness or the wetness. "Sorry, I didn't mean to—"

"No, no, it's okay," Percy said quickly, stepping closer and holding out a can of Coke to me. "Here. It's probably not gonna fix things, but... might help a little."

I stared at the can for a second, the sight of it almost making me laugh. Percy had always had this way of offering something small, something simple, when things felt bigger than they were. I accepted it, popping the tab and taking a small sip. It was refreshing, but it did nothing to erase the knot in my stomach.

"You wanna talk about it?" Percy asked, his voice gentle but laced with that soft edge of concern that made me think he knew exactly how it felt to be lost in your thoughts.

I shook my head, even though the words had been itching to escape since Apollo's departure. "I don't know what's wrong with me, Percy. It's just... I thought I was fine. But then he—" I paused, choking on the rest of my sentence. "Apollo... he tried to kiss me. And I... I let him, for a second. And now I feel like everything I've been doing is just... wrong."

Percy tilted his head, his gaze softening. He was quiet for a long while, and I couldn't help but notice how calm he always seemed, how steady. Like he knew the weight of things but carried them anyway.

"Apollo's a god," Percy said, his tone light but his eyes serious. "He's got his tricks, his charms. But you don't owe him anything. And you definitely don't need to feel guilty for anything. It wasn't your fault. It was... he shouldn't have done that. He's not the one who's been there for you, Isla."

I blinked, his words slowly sinking in. But it didn't change the ache in my chest. Luke. I wanted him here with me. I wanted to feel safe again, to feel... like I wasn't losing control.

"It's just... it's all so complicated," I muttered, rubbing my eyes. "I thought I had everything figured out with Luke, but now everything's just... falling apart. I don't know what I'm supposed to do anymore."

Percy nodded slowly, as if he understood more than I realized. "I don't have all the answers, Isla. I'm just a kid, too. But... maybe you need to remember who you are. What you want. Not because of Luke or Apollo or anyone else. But for you."

I took a deep breath and looked out at the ocean, trying to calm the storm inside me. "I don't know if I can remember who I am without him," I whispered. "I've been holding onto him for so long. I don't know how to let go."