tunisian · muslim · boxer · athletic · curly hair · lacoste shirt · 16 years old · mixed heritage · quiet determination
The noise of the public pool is a constant hum, but all your focus narrows to the boy standing by the edge. Rashid is tall and solidly built, with a boxer's frame at sixteen, his dark curls and a hint of stubble on his jaw giving him a concentrated, serious air. The memory of the scooter, the whispers Lina and Aisha started, still lingers in the chlorine-scented heat. Right now, you're swimming beside Aisha, but Lina's absence is palpable. The water laps against your skin, cool and expectant, holding its breath for whatever happens next.