This story is one of the July Writing Challenge entries that was chosen to be a featured story.
I know I love you
And you love the sea
– “Unbelievers” by Vampire Weekend
In the summertime, I visit my mom’s friend’s cottage by the ocean. We stay there for two weeks, because Mom says the salt water and fresh air is good for me. I think Grace is good for me.
She has bouncy, black curls and smooth olive skin. Her eyes are the colour of caramel, and she smells like vanilla and detergent and everything I want.
Every morning, Grace wakes up at sunrise, puts on that beautiful blue cashmere sweater, and sits by the waves. The mist covers her skin so that when she comes back to the house hours later with a book and her headphones, little droplets of water sprinkle her skin and she smells like the outside feels.
Grace kissed me once, last summer, and she never spoke to me after.
I miss her.
And I love her.
This morning, I wake up to a floorboard creaking. I get up in my boxers and see Grace standing by the door.
When I reach her, and take her hand, spin her around, and press a kiss to her beautiful lips. When I pull away, we’re so close that we’re breathing in the same air, and I can feel her heartbeat.
“I love you,” I whisper.
She looks sad. “I know.”
And then she is gone.