The Keys to freedom

A world without you

Everyone dispersed and went their separate ways after Turtle Rock. Jessper headed home reluctantly—her mom had been growing increasingly frustrated with her constant absences. Eric, needed to check on his younger brother and sister, who were watched most nights by his grandmother when his mom worked. The only one who lingered was Grayson, who had long decided that wherever Oz and James were felt more like home to him than anywhere else. He rarely strayed far from them, knowing his father couldn't care less about his whereabouts. As long as Grayson's gave him his checks on time, his father didn't bother to notice—or care—where he spent the rest of his days. He was usually too busy downing beers until the night blurred into oblivion anyway.

       Everything was quiet, only the soft whisper of the water gently lapping against the dock. Oz sat on the back porch, her knees pulled up to her chest as she stared out at the water, a soft breeze ruffled her hair.

The sliding door creaked open behind her, she didn't need to turn around to know it was Grayson, she could tell by the clunk of his boots on the wooden porch as he walked over and sat down beside her on the steps. They sat in silence for a few minutes, both gazing out at the dark water.

"You, okay?" he asked quietly, his voice gentle. He wasn't looking at her; his eyes were fixed on the horizon, but she could feel the concern in every word he spoke.

She didn't answer right away. She kept her eyes on the water, feeling the knot in her chest tighten, her thoughts too tangled to put into words. She knew why he was asking. Lately, she'd been pulling away, keeping to herself more than usual, and besides Jessper he had always been the first to notice when something was off.

"Honestly, I don't know," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've just... been in my head a lot lately, I guess."

He nodded slowly, then turned his head to look at her. His eyes were soft, but there was clearly worry behind them. "I've noticed," he said carefully, like he didn't want to push too hard, but he had to say it. "I've been worried about you, Oz. Ever since—" he paused, swallowing, "you know, last time."

Her chest tightened, and she glanced down at her hands, her fingers nervously picking at the hem of her shirt as the memory of that day flashed in her mind, the day she tried to end it all, when the weight had become too much. The memory of that dark moment still haunted both of them.

He cleared his throat, his voice strained. "I know you don't like to talk about it but..." he hesitated. "I still don't know why you did it... tried to do it." he turned to look at the side of her face, studying her carefully.

"I always assumed it was because of him—like he had done something."

She knew who he meant. Pyke. He thought he was the source of her pain. The reason she had suffered.

"I keep wondering if I missed something," he admitted, his voice quieter now. "If there were signs. If I could've prevented it somehow." His voice cracked, and the sound of it sent a pang through her chest.

She turned to him, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Grayson," she said, her voice steadier than she felt. "It wasn't your fault. And... it wasn't his."

His brows lifted slightly, a flicker of confusion passing through his eyes. "Then why?"

She hesitated, exhaling slowly before answering. "I was in a really dark place back then. And I didn't know how to handle it." Her gaze softened as she added, "But I'm dealing with it now. I promise. You don't have to worry."

He studied her for a moment, like he was searching for something in her expression—something to tell him she really meant it.

He was silent for a moment, then spoke again, his voice barely a whisper. "I'm scared you're going to feel that way again. That you're going to go back there to that place, and I won't be able to save you this time,"

"Oz, I wouldn't survive it." His voice was barely above a whisper. He swallowed hard, his throat bobbing. "A world without you... that's not a place I ever want to exist in. You're my anchor in this miserable excuse of a life."

Her eyes softened, she reached out her hand finding his and squeezing it gently. "I'm not going anywhere," she said softly, her thumb tracing the back of his hand. "I promise you. I'm not. I didn't realize back then how much I had to lose."

He didn't say anything for a moment, but his grip on her hand tightened, like he was holding on for dear life. She leaned her head against his shoulder, feeling the warmth of him, the steady rise and fall of his breath, and for the first time in a while, she felt grounded.

"You're...the best part of my days, Oz," he said softly. "You always have been. I just need you to know that."

She closed her eyes for a moment as she rested against him. "I'm okay, Gray. I'll be okay."

They sat together in the quiet, their fingers intertwined, gazing out at the endless stretch of water before them. The moon hung low in the sky, ripples of light shined over the ocean, and for a brief moment, it felt like the world was still, like nothing could touch them out here in the peaceful night.

She let out a slow breath, the weight inside her chest easing just a little. Grayson was here. They were here. And for now, that was enough.