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The water moves endlessly underneath me against the cliffs.

Everything I survived, everything I’ve lost. Everything that kills me slowly. I’m so tired. Deep inside of me, I’m so tired.

My knees feel weak, and for a second I close my eyes.

He doesn’t get to choose.

I hold my little star tighter and stare out at the ocean.

Damien I’m losing it. One last good memory.

For the first time in years, there’s no argument left inside me, no voice telling me to wait until tomorrow and hope that it’ll get better. There’s no future I tried to convince myself to reach.

Can you take me to see the stars again?

I know what I want.

And I can’t let anyone choose for me.

I wish… I wish they’ll always be safe.

131

Damien

Another tomorrow

Play - Somewhere Only We Know by Rhianne

My heart is telling me that something is wrong. Before I even kill the engine I feel it. I leave it parked there, grab my gun and move toward the door of the house with it in my hand.

There’s blood on the floor. Thin, streaking across the entrance and disappearing down the hallway.

I follow it, and it leads toward one of the rooms at the back of the house and before I can reach it, I see someone lying on the floor. Ethan.

Blood covers the side of his head. But blood covers most of this fucking room.

I cross the place in two strides and grab him by the collar, hauling him upright.

“Where is she, Bennett?”

He looks at me, confused, as if he just woke up from being unconscious for minutes.

“Where the fuck is Mireya?” I repeat again.

“I–I don’t know.”

I slap him across the face to wake him up even more. “Don’t make me repeat myself. Where is my Mireya?”

He doesn’t reply, so I drag him to his feet. “Nothing? Then you’re going to help me find her.”

I keep him in front of me as I move through the house, my gun raised, checking every room, every doorway, every fucking corner. Until I reach a corridor where a man stands at the end of it.

He turns toward me, Ethan freezes in my hand and I immediately understand.

“That’s your father?” I ask.

He doesn’t reply, but the man there smiles. “Aren’t you⁠—”