The Afterglow [My first short thingy in months!!!!]

'I thought he loved me...' The voice in her head went silent as she heard the cheerful laughter coming from the couple before her. They were walking closely, hand in hand, lovesick smiles plastered to their faces.1

Renee felt her heart skip a beat. She had actually recovered enough from her shock to plan and run away, but it was futile. Jean had recognized her before she had even turned around.2

"Renee, I didn't expect you to be here." Jean said as a greeting. Renee sighed inwardly and turned to face him and the still smiling Sierra. They had looked so perfect together. However, the loving tenderness had disappeared from Jean's brown eyes now, replaced by an emotion Renee could not read.3

"I...I was just taking a walk..." Renee mumbled timidly, trying to avoid Jean's intense gaze. She didn't want to get lost in those eyes again, there would be no comfort like there was before, it would only destroy her. The last thing she wanted was to break down crying in front of him pathetically.4

"Oh...Um, I almost forgot to introduce you too. Renee, this is Sierra - Sierra, meet Renee. We're...good friends."5

"Nice to meet you," Sierra said with a friendly smile.6

"Same," Renee replied, barely able to get that one word out, much less force a smile. A lump had risen in her throat when she heard those two words.7

Good friends; that was what he had called it. She understood in this condition why he had mentioned it, but she dreaded the fact that that was the only thing their past relationship would ever be referred as. He would forget all the words he said, the promise he had broken, all the love he had pledged to her.8

He had probably forgotten about it already.9

"I...um, I have to go now; I'm late for dinner," Renee muttered hastily as she felt the sting of tears come to her eyes, "It was nice seeing you guys."10

She had departed so quickly that their goodbyes had barely left their lips. She walked hurriedly from the boardwalk and unto the beach. Now that she was alone, the tears could safely fall unseen.11

And then she began running.12

Her heart accelerated, beating against her chest rapidly, but she couldn't stop. She ran along the shoreline, raven hair flowing behind her in glistening waves similar to the ones curving in from the ocean now, crashing upon the sand with extreme fury.13

She slowed down, falling to her knees, her breath coming out in ragged gasps. The tears flowed down her pale cheeks, accompanied by small sobs she could not control.14

It was her fault, for falling so deep and so fast, before she could have seen what lay ahead. It had always been a fake relationship and she had so foolishly hung on to a crumbling support. It wasn't so bad to have someone put a relationship to an end because they saw for a fact that it wouldn't work out, but when the person loved another, and left you because you weren't good enough...All the negatives flowed out in her tears, but they still couldn't help seal the cracks on her fragile heart.15

The sun was fading on the horizon and night was upon her. She stood up, wiping away her tears with the back of her sleeve. She needed to be strong. She couldn't let him enjoy his so called "love" while she suffered under the silence.16

Their relationship was one that normally didn't work out anyway. But as much as she tried to comfort herself with words like that, it was hard to grasp.17

She sighed and looked towards the setting sun. It now vanished below the horizon and the beach grew dark.18

Even in the night, the stars and moon came to brighten her path, hoping to lead her to the morning light.