Pain In Love

the fate of the world depends on it. I'm Ruby, not Merlin-no pressure, please. The incessant ringing was giving me a headache, so I decided to silence the phone. Or at least I tried. The calls s

rab a latte at Starbucks. Maybe that would help me stop overthinking everything. Because, let's be honest, thinking doesn't solve problems-it just makes them worse. The crying, the hatred, the constant spiral of emotions... It all got me thinking. Maybe it was time to leave. Leave this town, leave the drama, and leave the memories behind. I decided to pack my bags and spend the summer in Malibu with my grandparents. The sun, the beaches-maybe they could fix what felt so broken inside. Summer break started Friday, but waiting until then felt unbearable. Too much could go wrong in a week, and I wanted to avoid Damien (*Eli*, as I secretly called him) and his crew at all costs. So, I decided to leave immediately. I packed my bags, booked a flight, and sent Gramps a quick text. Then, I messaged Andrea to see if she'd join me. Her reply came quicker than I expected: *Yes.* Ecstatic, I told her to meet me at the airport. Leaving a note on the kitchen island, I called a cab and left the house. My only thought as I closed the door was, *I hope I'll be strong enough