Electric Shadows

The infinity pool blurred with the ocean at the horizon, an illusion she'd stopped finding charming three days into what was supposed to be their reconciliation trip. Elena traced the water's surface with her **palm**, watching ripples distort her reflection. Marcus was inside again, on another call that couldn't wait, though she'd stopped asking what couldn't wait.

**Lightning** cracked the sky—distant, counting down the miles like she counted down the reasons she'd already left him in her head. One for every missed anniversary. Two for every apology that sounded like an excuse. Three for the way he looked at her now, when he remembered to look at all.

She remembered their first date, eight years ago. She'd had **spinach** stuck between her teeth the entire evening—bright green, ridiculous. Marcus had laughed, really laughed, with his head thrown back, and she'd thought: this is it. This is the person who'll see all my ugly parts and stay. Now he couldn't even see her when she was standing right in front of him.

The storm moved closer, shadows stretching across the deck like elongated fingers. Elena stood, letting her robe fall to reveal the swimsuit she'd bought just for this trip—something daring, something unlike her. Something the woman Marcus married would never have worn.

She stepped into the pool. The water shocked her skin, cold and alive, and for the first time in years, she felt something like clarity.

**Lightning** struck somewhere offshore, illuminating the horizon in a jagged pulse of white. In that brief, brilliant moment, Elena saw everything: the package she'd hidden in the closet, the flight booked for tomorrow, the apartment she'd already put a deposit on.

She climbed out of the pool, water streaming from her body like she was shedding something too heavy to carry anymore. Marcus stood at the glass door, phone pressed to his ear, watching her. He didn't wave. She didn't either.

Some things, once broken, can only be reflected back at you—distorted, waiting for you to finally stop looking for the version that never really existed.