Sitting with your feet in the sand, you turned your head up towards the setting sun. Rafe would be here any minute, and then everything would end. This wouldn’t be your spot anymore. It wouldn’t be a place that you’d want to spend time at, remembering the first time that you met Rafe. It was a good thing The Outer Banks had a lot of beach, because you’d never be on this stretch of beach again.

You tap your fingers against your knee, your mind drifting back to that first night. It had been a large Kook bonfire, you’d been strolling along the beach looking for your friends when you’d literally ran into Rafe. You ran right into his muscular chest, spilling his drink all over your dress. He’d had an irritated response, but then he’d paused when he met your eyes. And that was it, like a spark going off.

Rafe had wrapped his jacket around you, covering your soaked dress. And it hadn’t been awkward. You’d gotten new drinks and wandered away from the crowd to this spot. Something you’d said had made him throw his head back in laughter and you’d thought, I could fall in love with that laugh. He’d looked at you in that moment, holding your gaze before your lips collided and you had the kind of kiss you’d only ever read about.

It was perfect. You’d been blissfully happy, until you weren’t. Rafe had a darkness in him that you’d never encountered before. After your first fight he’d slipped back into old habits, seeking solace in drugs. And it continued after every fight, until you barely remembered what he was like sober.

You feel him sit down beside you on the sand, he keeps his eyes focused on the waves in front of him. You’re trying to think of how to start this incredibly awkward and painful conversation. There’s no easy way to breakup with someone you love as much you loved Rafe. But it’s him that speaks first, because he knew.

“It’s over isn’t it?” His voice is low and gravelly and he still isn’t looking at you. Maybe it’s easier that way.

“I think it has to be” you say sadly.

“It’s not true, you know.” He says and you turn to look at him confused. “When you said I loved the drugs more than you. That’s not true. Since that first night we met, I have never loved anything or anyone the way I love you.” He finally looks at you, and you can see the emotion in his eyes. You sit there, staring at him, replaying his words over and over in your head.