Theodore's Pov
As soon as Liam swims over to Juniper, apologizing for leaving her behind, I know I cannot stay close. Watching them together is like swallowing shards of glass, painful and impossible to ignore. So, I kick my fins, moving farther away from the group, far enough that I cannot hear their laughter or see their closeness in sharp detail.
The water here is calmer, quieter. The rhythmic sway of the ocean wraps around me, muffling everything else. I dive down, letting the cool embrace of the sea wash over my thoughts. A school of silvery fish dart past, shimmering like liquid light, and for a brief moment, I manage to lose myself in the simple beauty of it all.
But not too far. Never too far. No matter how much I want to escape, I cannot bring myself to stray beyond the reach o
