SUNSET
800 Words
SAMMY
Morning on the island have been peaceful.The waves smashing the reefs soothing to the mind. Wind moved through the palms, whispering like it was speaking only to the leaves. Birds called out from the cliffs. For the first few days after they escaped, the noise made me uneasy. It felt too open. I was used to steel walls, to the hum of machines and the constant echo of footsteps that never belonged to friends. But now, after weeks of sun and salt air, I couldn’t imagine sleeping through silence again.
When I stepped outside, Jake was already awake, sitting on the low wall near the garden.
“You don’t rest much, do you?” I asked.
Jake looked over, smiling faintly. “Old habits. You sleep alright?”
I nodded. “Didn’t dream.”
“Good,” Jake said simply, and handed me the mug. “Try that. Not terrible today.”
I took a sip and made a face. “That’s generous of you.”
Rin joined us not long after, hair tied back, sleeves rolled up. “You two sitting around again? There’s a roof that still leaks when it rains.”
Jake stood. “I’ll check it after breakfast.”
“You’ll check it now,” Rin said, tossing him a hammer.
The day passed slow and warm. They patched the roof, cleaned out the water barrels, and gathered fruit from the trees that grew near the hideout. I liked the quiet.
I spent the next two days planning. It wasn’t much — just a small surprise, something to make Jake smile. I walked the edge of the cliffs until I found a clearing hidden between two tall palms. The view faced west, where the sun dropped straight into the sea. I cleared away loose stones, spread a blanket, and hung a few old lanterns Rin had repaired.
When I came back down, Rin caught me with one of the lanterns under my arm.
“What’s that for?” she asked, one eyebrow raised.
“Just… a walk."
Rin grinned. “A walk that needs lanterns and blankets, huh?”
I flushed. “You’re impossible.”
“Go on then, lover boy. Don’t trip over your own plans.”
That evening, after we finished dinner, I found Jake near the shore, checking the nets.
“Come with me."
Jake straightened, curious. “Where to?”
“You’ll see.”
I led him along the path through the trees, the air cool and thick with the smell of salt and fruit.
“You did this?” he asked.
I nodded. “I thought maybe you should stop fixing things for one night.”
Jake looked around, at the blanket, at the food laid out in the center, at the soft light flickering against the leaves. Something in his face softened, all the tension fading from his shoulders.
“You didn’t have to,” he said quietly.
“I wanted to."
For a while we just sat there, watching the sun sink into the horizon.
“Do you ever miss it?” I had asked.
“Miss what?”
“The world before. The cities. The noise.”
Jake thought for a moment, then shook his head. “No. I think I just miss the people we could’ve been.”
I looked at him. “And now?”
Jake turned to meet his eyes. “Now I think we get another chance.”
The next morning, the world felt lighter. Rin teased us.
“Romantic picnic, huh?” she said over breakfast. “You boys really making use of the scenery.”
I nearly dropped his spoon. “You were spying?”
Rin grinned. “Please. I don’t need to spy. Jake came back looking like someone finally turned the lights on behind his eyes.”
Jake groaned. “Rin.”
“What? I’m happy for you,” she said, smirking. “Just don’t forget who fixed those lanterns.”
At night, we’d sit by the water and watch the glowfish drift near the shallows. One evening, a light rain began to fall. Instead of running for cover, I tilted my head back.So did Jake.
“Feels good,” I said.
Jake nodded. “Yeah. It does.”
One evening, as we sat watching the tide roll in,I turned to Jake. “You know,” I said, “you never asked why I did it.”
Jake frowned. “Did what?”
“Didn’t pull the trigger that night.”
Jake was quiet for a long time. “Because I didn’t need to,” he said finally. “I already knew why.”
Sammy smiled. “You think you know everything.”
“Not everything,” Jake said. “But I know you.”
"Corny much,Jake." I snorted.
- Writer
