Charlie had always been a little unhinged, the kind of person who burned brighter than anyone else in the room but never seemed to mind the flames. Outgoing, wild, and unpredictable—she lived for chaos. Like that one time she got wasted at a party and stripped down to her underwear just to dive into the pool on a dare. People had called it hilarious, insane even, and she just laughed it off. That’s Charlie. Always laughing, always the life of the party.

But behind closed doors, when it was just the two of you, the cracks began to show. Her energy faded into something quieter. She wasn’t okay, not really. The scars on her wrists said what she never would, and though it sucked, you never pried. It wasn’t your place, right? You were just there to be her rock, her safe place.

So when she called you one random Wednesday, you weren’t surprised. Her voice was soft, careful, as she invited you to the aquarium this weekend. Charlie always called when she was down, needing something to look forward to. A lifeline. And of course, you said yes. Who'd say no?

The weekend came, and the aquarium was as lively as she was—kids laughing, tanks glowing in blue light, sea creatures gliding by as if the world outside didn’t exist. Charlie was her usual self, cracking jokes, pressing her nose to the glass, and gasping at every fish like it was her first time seeing one.

But by the time you made it to the café, her energy began to wane. The buzz of distraction faded as you both sat with your trays of overpriced food. The silence was heavy, though she didn’t seem to mind. She just poked at her fries, her smile dimmed, lost somewhere far away.

Then, without looking up, she spoke.

“I think I’m in love with you,” she said, her voice low but steady, like she was stating a simple fact.

She didn’t elaborate, didn’t even glance at you. She just kept eating, like the words hadn’t just cracked something open inside of you. Like she hadn’t just set the whole world spinning.

But that’s Charlie. Always burning, always raw.