CHAPTER ONE

But, in that moment, he moved swiftly, blocking my path. Despite my efforts to avoid him, he stood his ground. Without uttering a single word, he effortlessly lifted me onto his shoulder and began walking toward the waiting boat. I screamed in protest, my voice echoing loudly, but no amount of struggling or resistance could break his iron grip.

"For the love of God, Perion! Put me down!" I yelled.

He then powered the boat, and it gradually began to pull out of port. He released me, yet despite the chaos swirling around us, his touch felt unyielding and firm. I struggled vigorously to pry his hands away!

"Are you attempting to murder me?!" I cried out, voicing my fear about not knowing how to swim.

"Don't rock the boat, Carmenta!" Perion said, his tone tinged with irritation and danger.

"I loathe you, moron!" I yelled, thrashing against him. But his grip didn’t falter. If anything, he seemed to enjoy my futile attempts to escape.

Despite my desperate efforts, the balance of the boat was disrupted, sending us both plunging into the water. As we sank into the depths, I felt his grip on me loosen. A surge of fear overwhelmed me. The water muffled my cries, yet it felt like it was pounding against my skull. I tried to rise to the surface, but it was excruciatingly difficult due to the pressure constricting my chest and throat. My limbs flailed, but the weight of the water was too much. Just as I thought I might drown, an arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me upward.

When we broke the surface, I gasped for air, coughing as seawater burned my throat. Perion’s grip was unyielding, his strength keeping me afloat even as I weakly tried to push him away.

In that brief moment of vulnerability, the walls between us crumbled, leaving us exposed and raw. Only silence surrounded us, broken only by the sound of our labored breaths and the gentle lapping of the waves. Time seemed to stand still as we held onto each other, the quiet resistance we once harbored dissolving into the air. No words could bridge the gap between us, only the silent understanding that lingered in the space shared by our intertwined breaths.

Our gazes met, searching for peace amidst the chaos threatening to consume us. Finally, I lowered my head, resting my forehead against his. Without hesitation, tears began to fall, mingling with the salty sea water around us. With a soft exhale, Perion tilted his head, his lips hovering just inches away from mine. Time seemed to freeze as our breaths intertwined, the tension between us electrifying.

And then, in that singular moment, our lips met in a gentle kiss. He pulled back but remained impossibly close, his face mere inches from mine. Our noses brushed, and I found myself paralyzed, unable to move, unable to breathe.

It took me a few moments to recover. A loud thud echoed in my chest, bringing with it a sharp pain. The sound resonated in my mind—first as doubt, then as fear, and finally as sorrow. I immediately struggled to break from his grip.

"Foolish," I breathed. He had grown heavily in love, but he refused to acknowledge that it was over for the longest time.

In the wasteland, I was an angel, painfully beautiful yet brutally miserable. My entire, stupid existence has been paved with victories and glory, opulence and power. Such fame, fortune, glory, and all I could ever desire, I already have it, gleaming in front of my eyes like a beacon of fire. Yet, I still felt alone for unclear reasons. How come my heart is shredded? I got the world but, at what price? What's the fun in getting everything you want?

I am uncertain when it all went wrong, but I'm f'ng worn out.

"Maybe I'd listen if you actually understood me for once!" I shouted out, nearly losing my voice from the intensity of the violent emotions I was feeling as I hurled heavy words at my father, my heart shattered by the weight of years of feeling neglected.

"Carmen, are you f'ng fooling me? You truly think I'm a simpleton for not caring about your vulgarities!" I clenched my fists, tense with rage and pain while repulsive tears continued to fall from my eyes.

"Making a piece of garbage you called what, huh? Art? You know I let you go with that damn fruitless dream of yours! Now, you're screwed up, getting caught on the news and almost being arrested while you're off doing drugs?! I'm done trying to reason with you!" His face twisted into a mocking grin, each word cutting through me like a sharp blade. I could feel my jaw clenching and my chest tightening, my emotions threatening to overwhelm me.

"I was a fool for trusting you. You’ve let me down, Carmen! You're my daughter, but how did you get to be this way?" Out of breath and nearly suffocating, my father's anger and disappointment erupted as he slammed his fist onto the table, making everything rattle.

"You're leaving tomorrow morning, Carmen. You're no longer a child, so I expect you to cease splurging on material things and start behaving sensibly!"

"Dad, just please..." I pleaded, my voice shaking with desperation. The wide table between us felt like a barrier, and it pained me that he wouldn’t even meet my eyes after making the decision to take me away from my life in the city. My trembling hand reached out to him, fear and sorrow clear in my gaze. But before I could touch him, he quickly shoved my hand aside, leaving me feeling utterly broken.

"Dad, I don't want you telling me to pack my things. Not even to touch my stuff. I'm not going!"

"Yes, you fucking are!" He jabbed a finger in me. His eyes, once filled with concern, were now filled with disbelief and hurt.