The Love We Left Behind

A Short Walk To The Sea

It was another weekend, and Bethany and Evan decided to hang out again. They agreed to meet at a small café they hadn’t visited before, tucked between a bookstore and a florist, with large windows letting in the warm afternoon sunlight. Evan arrived first and took a seat by the window, stretching his legs lazily under the table. He fiddled with his phone for a moment before glancing toward the door.

Bethany appeared a few minutes later, her backpack slung over one shoulder, earbuds dangling around her neck. The sight of her made his chest tighten slightly, though he quickly looked away, pretending to scroll.

“Hey, Van!” Bethany greeted, sliding into the chair across from him.

“Van?” Evan asked, raising an eyebrow as he tried not to grin.

“Yeah, don’t give me that look! Since you won’t stop calling me Martins, I decided to name you Van,” she said, nudging him playfully.

“You lost the bet, remember?” Evan replied, chuckling softly.

“Bla, bla, bla… let’s just go, Van,” she said, waving a hand toward the door.

They ordered iced teas, and the cold glasses clinked as they laughed over the menu. Their conversation flowed easily, like water slipping over smooth stones. Evan found himself noticing the sunlight catching strands of her hair, the way her eyes crinkled when she smiled. He felt a warmth he couldn’t quite explain, but he didn’t question it.

Once their drinks were finished, they set off toward the sea. The café was only a few blocks from Evan’s house, so they decided to walk and enjoy the crisp afternoon air. Walking side by side, their shoulders brushed lightly. They talked about school, favorite songs, and the quirks of their classmates. Evan realized how easy it was to talk to her; there was no pressure, no judgment, just the simplicity of two people enjoying each other’s company.

“So, Martins… why the sea?” Evan asked teasingly.

“To say hello to the waves, of course!” she replied with a grin.

“And your brother dolphin Martins?” he added sarcastically.

Bethany laughed, the sound bright and clear, mingling with the soft roar of the waves in the distance. “Don’t make me kick you, VAN!”

“VAN?!” he repeated, grinning.

“Yep! That’s your name now,” she said, giving him a gentle nudge.

Evan laughed, shaking his head. “You better not call me that!”

They continued walking, talking and laughing, their steps falling into an easy rhythm. When they reached the sand, the sun had begun to dip lower in the sky, painting the horizon in shades of orange, pink, and lavender. The sea shimmered, reflecting the colors like a living canvas. They kicked off their shoes, letting the cool sand slip between their toes.

Bethany challenged Evan to a race to the water’s edge. They splashed, chased imaginary waves, and built a sandcastle together. Laughter spilled from both of them, light and unrestrained. Bethany’s laugh echoed over the water, and Evan couldn’t help but feel it was the best sound he’d heard all week.

Eventually, they collapsed onto the sand, side by side, staring out at the horizon. The sky deepened in color, and the gentle rhythm of the waves filled the silence.

“My little sister… she used to love the beach,” Evan said softly. “Every summer, we’d come here.”

Bethany turned toward him, surprised. “Wait… you had a sister?”

“Yeah…” His voice trailed off as he stared at the water, a shadow passing over his expression.

Bethany’s gaze softened. “Wow… your mom must be…?”

“She… she died when she was eight. Cancer.” The words hung in the air, heavier than he expected.

Bethany’s eyes widened in sympathy. She reached out, placing her hand lightly on his arm. “Oh, Evan… I’m so sorry.”

He shrugged slightly, trying to mask the ache. “Nah… it’s fine. Coming here just reminded me of her.”

“Do you… miss her?” Bethany asked gently, leaning a little closer.

“Yes, almost every day. She was so little… went through so much pain… and I couldn’t do anything,” he admitted, voice low and somber.

Bethany’s heart ached for him. “I… I know that feeling,” she said softly.

Evan glanced at her, surprised. “You… you know?”

“Yeah… I lost my mom when I was eight, too. Cancer. But I’m fine, really. No sad sympathy, okay?” She gave him a calm smile, though her eyes betrayed the lingering sting of her own loss.

Evan nodded, impressed by her composure. “Your dad… he must be proud of you. Brave.”

“You didn’t just fall for me, did you?” she asked sarcastically, trying to lighten the mood.

“In your dreams, Martins!” Evan replied, laughing.

After a few more minutes, Bethany’s eyes drifted toward the sky. “You know… I love the moon so much,” she said, almost dreamily.

“The moon?” Evan asked, curious.

“Yeah. Ever since I was little, I’ve loved looking at it,” she explained. “There’s just something… peaceful about it. Like no matter what’s going on, it’s always there, glowing, quiet, watching. My dad would let me stay up sometimes to just stare at it. I think… it feels like it’s keeping secrets, you know?”

Evan nodded, listening more closely than he had realized. “I never thought about it like that. Sounds… calming.”

Bethany smiled. “It is. And every time I see it, I feel… small, but in a good way. Like I’m part of something bigger.”

Evan smiled softly. “I get that. I think I understand why you like it so much.”

Bethany leaned back slightly, then turned to him with a grin. “And speaking of things I like… music! I’ve been obsessed with ENHYPEN lately. Ava and I… we’ve been best friends since we were little. Her mom and mine went to the same college and became friends, so we practically grew up together. We’ve gone to their concerts before, and trust me, they’re amazing live.”

Evan raised his eyebrows. “You’ve been to a concert? That sounds… intense.”

“Oh, it is!” Bethany laughed. “But don’t worry—at their next concert, I’m gonna take you with me. Trust me, you’ll like it, and you’ll even get to meet them.”

Evan’s eyes widened slightly, interest clearly piqued. “Meet them? That… actually sounds really cool. You really think I’d like it?”

Bethany nodded enthusiastically. “Absolutely! You’ll see. And don’t worry, I’ll guide you through all the fan stuff—Ava and I practically live for it.”

The conversation flowed effortlessly, and soon they were talking about other things—their favorite games, school projects, and the little things that made life feel lighter. They raced to the water’s edge again, splashing and teasing each other when one of them slipped. They collected smooth shells, laughing over their findings, and Evan found himself genuinely enjoying every moment.

As the sun dipped lower, painting the sky in deeper shades of pink and orange, they finally sat down on the sand, toes buried in the soft grains. The waves lapped at the shore, gentle and rhythmic, and for a while, neither of them spoke. Words felt unnecessary—there was comfort in the silence, in just being together.

“My little sister…” Evan murmured again, staring at the waves, “she loved the beach too. Every summer…”

Bethany reached out, lightly touching his arm. “Evan… it’s okay to miss her. To remember her.”

He gave her a small, grateful smile, feeling a weight lift just a little. “Thanks, Martins. For… being here.”

As darkness began to fall, they left the beach and headed home. The drive was quiet, the radio playing soft indie tracks. When they reached Bethany’s house, Evan walked her to the porch, where a single lamp glowed warmly. They lingered a moment before saying goodbye, both feeling the warmth of the afternoon linger.

The next day, Bethany was at home with her dad, planting flowers in their garden. The soil was cool and fragrant, and the rhythmic digging gave her a sense of peace. She hummed a tune as she worked when her phone buzzed with a new message. Dropping her tools and removing her gloves, she checked her phone.

“Oh, it’s Van!” she exclaimed with a bright smile.

“Van?” her dad, Mr. Martins, asked, pausing his own work with a curious look.

“Uhmm… his name is Evan, the new boy from my school,” she explained shyly.

“Oh, a boy,” Mr. Martins replied sarcastically, raising an eyebrow.

“Dadddd…” Bethany said, clearly embarrassed.

Mr. Martins chuckled and didn’t say anything more. Bethany opened the text.

Evan had written: Hi Martins! Wyd?

Bethany replied: Planting some flowers with my dad in the garden. She smiled as she typed.

Evan answered: Okayyy…

Bethany continued: How about you? How’s your weekend going?

Evan: Nothing, wanna hang later on?

Bethany: I don’t think I can… I’m sorry.

Evan: Nahh… it’s cool. Spend the weekend with your dad.

Bethany sent one last message: Alright, enjoy your weekend.

Evan dropped his phone in disappointment, feeling a little down that he wouldn’t be able to see Bethany.