Alina sits alone at the edge of the pier, her fingers tracing the worn edges of a letter she holds tightly. The words on the paper are blurred, not from the ink but from the tears that have fallen onto them. The letter is from Marcus, her late brother, whose absence feels like a gaping hole in her heart. She gazes out at the horizon, where the sky kisses the sea, and recalls the laughter they once shared in this very spot.
In her mind, Alina hears Marcus's voice, vibrant and full of life. "Remember when we used to race down the beach?" he would say, laughter in his eyes, always one step ahead. The thought brings a bittersweet smile to her lips, yet the weight of his absence presses down on her like a tide that won't recede.
Alina unfolds the letter again, reading Marcus's final words. "I wish I could have been stronger, for you, for us. But know that every moment with you was a moment I cherished." She closes her eyes, letting the words wrap around her like a comforting embrace, though they bring more questions than answers.
Alina feels a pang of guilt, wondering if she could have done more, been more present, or seen the signs. The sea reflects the shimmering sky, a mirror to her turmoil within. "Why didn't I notice?" She whispers to the night, hoping for an answer that never comes.
Alina stands up, looking out at the endless stretch of ocean. "I will carry your memory, but I must find a way to live," she murmurs softly, her voice lost to the sound of the waves. She folds the letter carefully, placing it in her coat pocket, and begins to walk back along the pier, each step a testament to her determination to heal.
Alina pauses at the end of the pier, taking one last look at the horizon. "Goodbye, Marcus," she says, her voice steady, as if speaking directly to the stars. With a deep breath, Alina turns toward the town, where life awaits with its familiar rhythms, and begins her journey forward, ready to honor her brother by living fully.
