Raya is different from the typical 17-year-old with lots of friends and a social life. She's been dealing with schizophrenia since she was young, feeling like an outsider, especially in high school where she only has two friends and a close host fam...
The journey to the beach house turned out smoother than expected. Departing from Santa Monica, it took us approximately an hour to reach Malibu Beach.
We dozed off during the ride, nearly missing our stop not once, but twice.
As we made our way to the bus station, my eyes caught sight of posters featuring my face. They declared me missing, urging people to call a number if they saw me. It pained me to realize they couldn't comprehend that I was leaving for their own good.
I didn't want to cause even more pain to my family than I already had.
******
"Welcome home," I murmured, swinging open the door to our serene beach house.
It stood as breathtakingly beautiful as it did five years prior, the memories flooding back. The pristine white walls, complemented by accents of blue and beige, adorned with countless white frames capturing moments frozen in time. Each frame held a story, a testament to what once was.
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(This was the closest picture to my imagination.)
I glanced back to find Zyran's gentle smile as he took in the surroundings. "What do you think?" I inquired. With a grin, he stepped closer, enveloping me in his strong embrace from behind. "This just... feels like home," he murmured, planting a tender kiss on my cheek.
A content smile spread across my face as I closed my eyes, savoring the sensation of the gentle, warm breeze against my skin, the setting sun painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, and the comforting touch of Zyran's arms.
"I feel like I'm gonna like it here, with you." He said and I hummed. For the first time in a while, guilt wasn't the most dominant feeling. Happiness and satisfaction had taken the upper hand and that's how I knew I had made the right decision.
"I'm exhausted, let's take a nap, shall we?" He suggested and I smiled at him before grabbing his hand and going upstairs.
As we fell on the bed, we immediately fell asleep.
******
"Come on, baby, just jump!" Zyran's voice echoed from the beach, but I hesitated on the patio, unwilling to plunge into the freezing water.
Despite his persistent encouragement, I voiced my reluctance. "I don't want to freeze to death, Zy," I called back.
Rolling his eyes with a grin, he countered, "I'll warm you up, come on now."
With a sigh, I untied my bathrobe, letting it cascade down my shoulders and body. His reaction was priceless as he stared at me in utter awe, mouth agape. "Fuck me," he breathed, his words earning a smirk from me.
Striding towards the water, I gathered my braids into a messy bun, preparing for the plunge. The coldness of the water made me cringe; it was even more frigid than I had anticipated.
Once my legs were submerged, shivers ran down my spine, prompting Zyran to swim towards me, wrapping me in his embrace. Together, he guided us into deeper waters, his muscular frame still visible as my neck hovered just above the waterline. In that moment, I couldn't help but notice how tall he was compared to me.
He leaned down until our noses were touching, eyes melted into each other, bodies as close as they could be.
"I love you." He said.
Tugging at his hair, I brought him closer to my lips. "I love you."
Our lips met in a passionate collision, and I felt myself utterly captivated by the beautiful soul before me. The way he made me feel was a strange sensation, yet somehow comforting because it was him.
We loved each other for all the right reasons, and in that moment, nothing else mattered but the eternity I wished to spend by his side.
As we parted, his mesmerizing green eyes locked onto mine. Zyran was like a magnetic force, drawing me in with an irresistible allure. He was my world, my everything.
In Zyran, I found my true counterpart, my other half.
If only I had known...
******
We laid on the sand, enveloped by the vast expanse of stars adorning the night sky. I was cocooned in my pink beach poncho while he reclined shirtless beside me.
"What's your biggest fear?" I asked, breaking the peaceful silence. He emitted a thoughtful hum as he pondered my question.
"I'd say, losing you," he replied earnestly.
Turning to face him, I ran my fingers through his hair. "You'll never lose me," I reassured him with a smile. "Yeah, but still. All I have is me and all I need is..." he trailed off, drawing closer to me and planting a kiss on my lips, "...you."
"If I lose you, I'd go crazy and revert to who I was before I met you," he confessed. "What were you like?"
He sighed, gazing up at the sky. "I was dealing with the loss of my parents and best friend. I felt trapped in a dark corner, like I'd never find my way out. Then... I saw you," he continued, smirking at the memory before returning his gaze to the stars.
"You were the light in my darkness," he said, rolling onto his side and smiling. "Thank you for loving me, Raya."
It felt surreal, like I was trapped in a dream. How could someone so pure love someone like me?
"Why do you love me?" I inquired, and he chuckled softly. "You can't really ask why about love," he replied, gently playing with my hair.
I tilted my head, he mirrored my movements, smiling. "Just tell me. I want to know," I insisted.
"I love you because you make me feel loved," he began, placing a kiss on my forehead. "I love you because you make me smile," he continued, brushing his lips against mine. "I love you because being with you feels like I'm making a positive difference in my messed-up life," he admitted, his grin widening. "But most of all, I love you because you're you," he concluded, his eyes filled with sincerity. "There are countless other reasons, but my heart chose you, and that's all I need."
His words melted my heart, tears of joy streaming down my face as I realized the depth of his love for me.
"Okay," he murmured, pressing a tender kiss to my cheek before rising to his feet. "Let's go to sleep, love."
