Chapter Text
I thought we were fine. I thought that all of our troubles were behind us. I was wrong.
“Mara!” It’s Amaya, my dearest, the love of my life. She’s sobbing, tears cascading down pale skin like waterfalls down a cliffside. She runs to me, falling in my arms. “Darling, what’s wrong?” I ask her. In all of our years together, I have never seen her in such despair.
Amaya lifts her head. I brush her golden hair away from her face, wiping her tears away with my thumb. “Whatever it is, we can face it together. Remember, I’m here for you. I will always be here for you.” I murmur, holding her close.
“But that’s just it, we can’t!” She sobs. “My mother, she told me that as soon as I turn 18, I’m to marry James!” My face screws up in disgust at the mere mention of James, so much so that I barely register the first part. James is a classic fuckboy who thinks he’s God’s gift to the world. His idea of flirting is thinly veiled insults or backhanded compliments. He’s flirted with or creeped on nearly every girl in our class, and can’t even fathom why no one wants him. He’s arrogant and cruel, and he’s had his eye on Amaya since we were 13.
“Mother says that his father has offered mine a job in his company if I marry James, she says that I have to do it for the family!” Amaya is inconsolable. I hold her to my chest, barely able to conceal my own horror. “She can’t do that, she can’t force you to marry anyone!” I almost shout at the pure injustice of the whole thing.
Amaya sniffles, wiping her eyes. “I don’t know what to do, I don’t want to lose you…”
“You won’t lose me.” I say firmly. I grab her hands, and make her look at me. “I will never leave you alone.”
Amaya shakes her head. “But I’m going somewhere you can’t follow. In a week, my mother is putting me on a plane… I can’t come back.”
One week. One week until Amaya is gone forever. One week until I lose the only girl I have ever loved.