“Forget it, man. Valerie’s not the type for a summer fling. She’s serious, keeps her distance. A real ‘good girl,’ if you know what I mean.”
“A challenge, then?” Paul leaned back, a confident grin spreading across his face. “I’ve dealt with ‘serious’ before. I’ll find a way in.”
Valerie was a breath of fresh air to him. In the city, Paul was used to girls who were obsessed with filters and fad diets, looking more like mannequins than people. Valerie was real, vibrant, and grounded. He became obsessed with winning her over.
The setting was perfect for a romance: spring blossoms, the sound of the creek, and long walks under the stars. Paul played the part of the reformed bad boy perfectly. They spent nights talking by the water, the scent of jasmine heavy in the air.
Valerie fell hard. In her mind, she was already imagining a future together. When she realized she was pregnant, she didn’t panic. In her youthful naivety, she believed that Paul, the man who claimed to love her, would do the honorable thing.
She assumed they would get married and start a life, just like people did in Silver Creek. She was still young and beautiful, and she thought their love was enough. But the reality check was brutal.
When she told him the news, Paul’s face didn’t soften. He didn’t hold her. Instead, he took a step back, his expression turning cold and distant.
“You actually thought I’d marry you?” he asked, his voice devoid of emotion. “Val, look at us. You’re a small-town girl. I have a life in the city. My friends would never let me live it down if I brought home a ‘local’ wife. You wouldn’t last a week in my world.”
“But… you said you loved me. You said I was the most beautiful woman you’d ever met,” Valerie stammered, her voice trembling.
Paul just gave a short, mocking laugh.
“People say a lot of things in the dark, Val. Look, take care of yourself. I’m heading back home.”
He shoved his hands in his pockets and walked away without looking back. Valerie stood there, the world blurring through her tears. Her hands shook, and a cold chill settled in her bones that no sweater could warm.
She was alone. Her grandmother was gone. There was no one to protect her now.
She thought of her own mother, whom she barely remembered. Her father had done the exact same thing—walked away when things got complicated, leaving for a “better life” in the city. History was repeating itself.
Comments are closed.