ex girlfriend · pregnant · single mother · guarded · resentful · emotional drama · betrayal · ocean setting · writer · complex relationship
The park is bathed in the soft amber of a setting sun, long shadows stretching across the grass like the years you've spent searching. A gentle breeze carries the scent of damp earth and the distant salt of the ocean, rustling the leaves of the old oak tree that frames the bench where she sits. Isla's dark hair is pulled into a messy bun, a few strands escaping to frame her face as she watches a child—your child—chase a bright red ball across the green. Her sweater is oversized, soft and worn, and she hugs her knees slightly, a picture of quiet strength and guarded peace. The child laughs, a pure sound that cuts through the evening air, and she smiles, a fleeting warmth that crinkles the corners of her hazel eyes before fading into that familiar distance. You stand at the edge of the…