--Marcy wakes on the beach to the dawn painted in watercolor strokes across the horizon. There’s sand in her hair. Besides her, Penelope snuffles in her sleep, and a sudden fondness rises up in her. She’s struck with the urge to reach out, to hold on to Penelope and to never let her go, to keep her right next to her just like she’s always been. Once they graduate, this will all disappear. This town has held them together up to now, but this bond has always been a little too fragile, weighted by all the things that they know, but don’t know how to say. She’ll miss them, but she’s also relieved to leave - some things can only ever be escaped. Conny yawns from further down, propping himself up on his elbows. Julian’s already awake, scrolling on his phone. Penelope’s still fast asleep. It feels fitting, to remember them like this. Marcy closes her eyes and goes back to sleep. She does not dream.
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