A small town smokeshow. You.

The song Oklahoma Smokeshow by Zach Bryan, a perfect description of you.

You used to be so different, so innocent, so safe. It didn’t take long for your first boyfriend to ruin you, badly. Not long after that break up, did many other come, and you let them into your life for them to end up ruining you further. Taking advantage of you. Labeling you. Taking pictures of you. Leading all of your friends to slowly hate you behind your back. Scars permanently marked in your skin by the very men who hurt you.

You kept up that contagious and bright smile in public though.

You were a Kook, a popular and wealthy one at that. Your parent’s wealth defined your status. The islands old ways. Midsummer’s each year, you looked the same, yet different in so many ways.

Rafe was also a Kook, his dad being one of the richest men in Kildare County. He was a temperamental, impatient, protective, defensive, and rough around the edges man. A daddy’s boy with a daddy that cared about his sister instead of him. You were a kindhearted, sweet, gentle, forgiving, compassionate, heart on your sleeve, momma’s girl with a mom that cared about your brother instead of you.

You knew Rafe because you’d dated one of his friends, Brayden. Brayden dated you, used you, and then left you. Along with the list of guys who did the same thing. Who played with your heart that you wore on your sleeve, who manipulated the nativity you clung to, not yet wanting to let go of your innocence and develop a cold heart.

Rafe had more friends of course; Topper, Kelce, Brayden, James, etc.

This year at Midsummers, you walked into the Kook gathering with your family. It was an elegant and expensive atmosphere, warm lights decorated the Island Club, fancy dishes set up at different counters for guests. Every Kook was there.

You stopped liking these events after two years ago. You still smiled and laughed with people though. Just because you uncomfortable didn’t mean everyone else had to be.