The sun slipped through Racheal's curtains, painting her room in soft streaks of gold. She sat up slowly, stretching her arms toward the light. For the first time in days, she whispered to herself, "New day. New start."
It was a weekday, classes loomed, and her mind felt heavy with everything she had endured. Still, she promised herself one thing—today she would not drown in the shadows of yesterday. She would breathe.
By midmorning, she found herself at the shoreline. The beach was quiet, kissed by the rhythm of the waves. The air smelled of salt and freedom, the kind that lingered at the back of the throat. The tide rolled lazily in and out, smoothing over the footprints of early walkers. Seagulls wheeled across the pale-blue sky, their cries blending with the crash of water on stone. The horizon shimmered faintly under the touch of the rising sun, as if the world itself had been painted fresh for the day.
The salty breeze tangled gently with her hair as she walked barefoot across the sand, leaving small imprints that vanished when the tide rolled in. She closed her eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply, letting the vastness of the sea untangle the knots in her chest. The steady rhythm of the waves was like a lullaby, and with each breath, the weight pressing down on her seemed to loosen.
Racheal sat down near the water's edge, hugging her knees and watching the horizon. The endless blue stretched out before her, a canvas of calm, and for the first time in weeks, she allowed herself to feel small in a way that wasn't frightening—but freeing.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
The voice startled her. She turned her head to see a girl lowering herself gracefully onto the sand beside her.
She was striking—her beauty the kind that demanded attention without even trying. Sunlight seemed to linger on her skin, giving it a warm glow. Her hair fell in soft waves, catching flecks of gold where it touched the light. Her eyes, bright and curious, carried the calm of the sea yet a spark of mischief too.
The girl studied Racheal quietly for a moment. In her thoughts, she marveled: She looks like she carries storms in her heart, but still sits here as if she belongs to the calm. There's a strength in her silence… and a softness too, the kind that makes you want to protect it.
For a moment, Racheal just stared, caught between surprise and admiration. The girl tilted her head slightly, a knowing smile curving her lips.
"You're even more beautiful up close," she said softly, as if speaking a thought aloud.
Heat crept into Racheal's cheeks. She laughed nervously, brushing stray strands of hair behind her ear. "You flatter too easily."
"No," the girl replied gently, her gaze unwavering. "I only speak the truth when I see it."
The words lingered in the air, light yet heavy, as the waves whispered against the shore. Racheal turned back to the sea, feeling a strange calm wash over her. For the first time in weeks, she didn't feel uneasy. Instead, she felt truly seen—seen in a way she hadn't been for a very long time.
She exhaled slowly, letting the moment sink in, and for the first time, the weight pressing on her chest felt a little lighter.