Sky girl

n jagged cliffs and sparkling blue waters, was a haven for two best friends who had grown up here. Juliana Hopes and Carmen Ocean had spent nearly every day of

a picture-perfect postcard-an idyllic place where time s

heir own secret corners of the town, their favorite spots wh

tures beyond Crescent Bay. While she wasn't exactly a daydreamer in the traditional sense, her mind always seemed to drift to something larger than the present moment. She could sit for hours on the beach, watching the clouds change shape, or let the salty bre

sed hair and wide smile always made her approachable. If anyone needed help with schoolwork, advice on a difficult situation, or just someone to listen, Carmen was the first person people tu

actical solutions, and where Carmen found concrete answers, Juliana found beauty in the

light illuminated the sky with streaks of pink and purple. The ocean stretched endlessly before them, a vast and infinite sea of blue. It was their favorite time of day, the moment when the town seemed to exh

Her voice was warm, but there was a teasing lilt to it. She knew that Juliana often had

. After a few moments of quiet contemplation, she replied, her voice soft and distant, "I was thinking about how everything just keeps going. The tide,

ks. You know you don't have to wait for anything. You've got your whole future ahead of you, and i

ady been written. I want something different-something that no one else has had. Something that's all my own." She p

things. But you're right about one thing-life doesn't w

ves. Despite Carmen's grounded approach to life, she knew that Juliana's musings were often deeper than they appeared. Her friend

a asked, glancing at Carmen again. "Like, nothing

dictable. "I guess it's easy to feel that way, especially when we're not thinking about what's right in front of us. But you know

"I don't know. I just feel like there's something more out there,

armen replied with a grin. "And when

ething was about to happen, something she couldn't yet understand. It wasn't a bad feeling, not exactly. Just a st

began to appear one by one, shimmering faintly in the growing darkness. It was moments like this, on the shores of Crescent Bay,

we're going to do after graduation." She looked over at Juliana, a playful spark in her eye. "I

perfect for that kind of life.

sed, her eyes twinklin

ed. "But maybe that's the point. Maybe I'm n

summer full of beach days, late-night talks, and no plans

d enjoy the moment, let go of the uncertainty that always seemed to cling

actly where she needed to be. She didn't need to chase the unknown-at least not yet. Because with Carmen by her side, she knew she wa