“Hey, Mom and Dad. Guidance is what I need.”

Leaves rustle softly, the wind combing through my hair, swirling them in a circular motion on the ground. Their graves are spotless, only reminding me of the deafening silence. I can hear my mom’s soft, angelic voice. Forbearance — something her keen mind would always ponder about.

“I still need you.”

Part of me was hoping for a sign. Something graspable. Something less absent. The glue to my foundation, erased from existence. Forbearance.

“Still visiting, that’s nice. Wish I could do that.”

Cait’s voice sulks, drowning in the puddle of her own struggles.

“But I can’t.”

She sighs, her shoulders slumping, her face painted with the somber taste of bittersweet wine.

“After everything, why now?” My voice scarcely sounds, a cold reminder of our wasted, hazardous relationship.

“I loved you.”

Her steps approach me.

“You didn’t deserve someone like me.”

She halts in front of me, looking into my eyes.

“You should’ve left me sooner.”

Her lips brush against mine — soft and unexpected. My instinct shoves her away from me. My heart pounds relentlessly.

“What the hell, Cait?!”

My hands tremble as I wipe her kiss off. My jaw tightens, my gaze sharp as a kitchen knife. Tension courses through my veins as shock strikes her.

“What did you just do!”

I run off toward my truck, my heart thumping from the adrenaline. My hands slam against the wheel as the rising distress feeds my anxiety. I reach for my phone, Julia’s number on speed dial. Anxiously, I linger, waiting for Julia to accept the call.

“Hey goofba—”

I cut her off, panic rising within me.

“She kissed me, Jules. Cait—I don’t know what the hell she was thinking.”

Julia’s shocked expression — I can picture it.

“Ethan, everything’s fine.”

Her soothing voice is now tainted by something indescribable.

“Nothing’s fine! I didn’t want this!”

The panic in my voice is now more evident. My knuckles turn white as my grip on the steering wheel tightens.

“I’m sorry, Julia. I can’t.”

Worry is etched into her voice.

“Ethan, everything’s fi—”

Dead set, I drive toward the only person who might understand. One of the few who gets me.

After parking the truck, I stride past couples and families. In record speed, I charge up the stairs. The door unlocks, and once I’m inside, Nathan sits on the couch, a sketchbook in his hands.

“Nate, can we talk?”

His facial expression alters, and he scoots over as the couch molds around my body.

“This is another one of your shenanigans?”

I shake my head, worry carved into my face.

“Cait, she—”

Nate’s crossed legs drop to the ground.

“She kissed me.”

Nate’s eyes widen as he grabs a pillow.

“Yeah, right. She wouldn’t.”

His gaze shifts across me, realization striking him.

“Why would she?”

He scoffs, drinking cold water.

“D’you tell Jules?”

Nate’s expression changes the moment I tell him. His body shifts as if one wrong move could electrocute him.

“I can’t lose her.”

My fingers maneuver like a pianist’s hands, gliding across my trembling legs.

A ringtone vibrates from my pocket. Julia’s name appears on the screen. The ringtone fades once her angelic voice cuts through the misty silence.

“Ethan, you got me worried.”

Her gentle voice slices through my thunderous thoughts. My limbs tingle with a somber vibration, leaving no trace of calming rivers.

“I should’ve known. I’m a moron.”

Her now distressed voice leaves a mark.

“You’re not to blame. Don’t hang up, please.”

My body fumbles in ways unimaginable, like a lost boat at sea crashing through waves of endless hopelessness. The urge to run becomes evident as her words only seem to feed my raging anxiety.

It’s too late. I messed up. The outcome could’ve been altered if my awareness had been sharper. I remain a fool.

The backpack strap folds around my shoulders as I head for the door.

The calming ambiance of the park retains my sanity. The world comes to a halt as I plant myself on the bench. The world turns hazy once the restless thoughts awaken.

My world now seems less vibrant. A desolate mind lost at sea, with help nowhere. Her luminous light is now tainted by my deceitful perception.

In the distance, Cait strides toward me. Her hair waves like leaves on the ground. My mind protests, but my body remains exhausted. She stands before me, an apologetic expression cast on her face.

The somber silence vanishes once she sits beside me.

“I’m sorry.”

Her hands slide across her legs, her gaze fixed on the distance.

“What happened?”

Families chatter in the distance, and Diana serves ice cream.

“You didn’t care.”

My voice falters.

“Never. Everything was terrible in our relationship.”

A small pebble flies across the gravel path as my foot retracts from the kick.

“You ruined me. Destroyed me.”

The silence turns vile as her nervous breath unsettles me.

“I was supposed to be happy, but you took that from me.”

Her voice falters under the silent pressure. I can’t forgive her.

“Don’t even try. No more damn excuses.”

She drinks from her coffee.

“I don’t know what I was thinking.”

She coughs before wiping her nose.

“I shouldn’t have done that.”

I scoff, peering into the distance. When does she ever know?

I rise from the bench.

“Stay for once.”

Her hair dances in the wind’s lullaby, her pleading eyes staring into mine.

“I chose to leave.”

Something she can’t seem to comprehend.

“Think we’re done for today.”

Her weak smile transforms into a façade of concern.

“Goodbye.”

Cait remains seated.

How is anyone supposed to forgive her?

How could my conscience ever forgive her?

Only time will tell.

A guy walks into me. A small note falls into my hands as he leaves. With the man long gone, curiosity overcomes me as I read the note.

“Don’t come looking for us. Danger.”

The note reeks of urgency, the letters jittery. Nothing else finds itself on the note after I turn it around. The note crumbles and slips into my pockets as the breeze brushes through my hair. Curiosity was always a weakness of mine. Comprehending Cait's actions only becomes more questionable. If Cait's plan is redemption, why don't her actions reflect that? The sky resembles beauty, its white clouds scattered. “Don’t come looking for us. Danger.” Why is the search for them dangerous? Do I even wanna find out? Some questions are better stay unsolved for everyone's sake. But I can’t help myself. I will find out; temptation only pulls me into its embrace as the streets of Seraphia lure me into a pondering walk.