{~Cherry Reed~}My head dipped under the surface of the pool, and for a moment— just a moment— everything went quiet.The noise in my head dulled, replaced by the muted hum of water and the steady rush of bubbles slipping past my ears. It felt like relief, like something inside me had finally loosened its grip.Or maybe it was just the cold.Either way, I stayed under for a few extra seconds, letting the chill seep into my skin, grounding me in something physical instead of the mess of thoughts I’d been trying to outrun.I pushed forward, swimming aimlessly, letting my body move without thinking. No direction, no plan, just distance.Then I came up for air.A sharp inhale filled my lungs as I broke the surface, water streaming down my face. I pushed my hair back, fingers combing through the damp curls as I blinked the droplets from my eyes.And then I turned.Nathaniel was gone.The lounge chair sat empty, the space around it untouched, like he’d never been there at all.My chest tigh
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