"Aftershocks"

The sound of Sabrina's voice calling out to them was like a cold splash of water, jolting Nick and Maya back to reality. They quickly disentangled themselves, their eyes darting around the pool area in a panic. Nick hastily climbed out of the pool, his back to Maya as he grabbed a towel to wrap around his waist. Maya, still in the pool, looked like a deer caught in the headlights. She seemed frozen, her eyes fixed on Nick as if unsure of what to do next. Nick, still trying to process the sudden interruption, avoided her gaze and muttered something about needing to go inside. Without waiting for a response, Nick turned and quickly made his way towards the house, leaving Maya alone in the pool. Maya watched him go, feeling a pang of hurt and rejection. She had expected Nick to try and come up with a plan to avoid Sabrina, to try and find a way to make their interrupted moment work. But instead, he had abandoned her, leaving her to face the consequences of their interrupted tryst. Feeling a mix of emotions, Maya slowly climbed out of the pool and made her way to her room. She closed the door behind her and leaned against it, trying to catch her breath. But as she looked around her room, her eyes landed on the familiar shape of her razor on her nightstand. Maya's thoughts began to spiral out of control as she thought about Nick's rejection. She had been so sure that he felt the same way, that their moment in the pool had meant something to him. But now, she wasn't so sure. The uncertainty was like a weight on her chest, making it hard to breathe. Without thinking, Maya picked up the razor and began to peel off her wet swimsuit. She walked over to her bathroom and turned on the faucet, letting the water run for a moment before turning it off. The silence was oppressive, and Maya felt like she was drowning in her own emotions. She took a deep breath and began to cut, the familiar ritual a comforting distraction from the pain of Nick's rejection. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as she cut, the physical pain a welcome respite from the emotional anguish. As the night wore on, Maya curled up on her bed, her body aching and her heart heavy. She cried herself to sleep, the sound of her own sobs echoing through the silence. The razor lay beside her, a grim reminder of the coping mechanisms she had developed over the years. In the darkness, Maya felt lost and alone, unsure of how to process the emotions that had been swirling inside her. She knew that she needed to talk to someone, to find a way to deal with the pain and uncertainty that had been building inside her. But for now, she just lay there, surrounded by the shadows, and let the tears wash away her sorrow.