Lara didn't sleep much that night.
The restaurant's air still clung to her clothes when she curled up on her worn-out couch, arms wrapped tightly around herself. The image of the photograph—her father's smile, the manager's face beside him, and Kaven's father just behind them—replayed in her mind like a broken loop.
But she didn't take the photo. She couldn't. Her hands had hovered over it, fingers trembling slightly, but something inside her pulled back. Maybe fear. Maybe disbelief. Maybe the thought that if she removed it, someone would know she had seen it.
It wasn't the kind of picture a manager would keep casually on his desk. It had been tucked inside an envelope—half-hidden, almost forgotten. That's what made it worse. Accidental things tell bigger truths.
---
The next day felt heavier.
Kaven waited at the counter when she walked into the restaurant, absentmindedly wiping the same glass over and over. His hair was messier than usual. He looked up and gave her a tired smile.
"Rough night?" he asked.
She paused, then nodded. "Didn't sleep well."
There was a small silence between them—too quiet for two people who grew up together.
"Hey," he leaned closer, lowering his voice. "I was thinking… it's been a while since we did something that didn't involve trays or drinks. You want to go to the pier tonight? Like old times?"
Lara blinked. "The old dock?"
He nodded. "Yeah. We could grab fries on the way. Sit. Talk. Or not talk."
Lara gave a small smile. "Okay."
She didn't ask why he wanted to go there. And he didn't ask why she looked like she hadn't slept in days.
---
Later that night, the ocean smelled like salt and rust. Waves lapped lazily against the wooden posts of the old dock. It was quieter than Lara remembered. The kind of quiet that made you hear your thoughts louder than you wanted to.
Kaven sat beside her, legs hanging off the edge.
"Remember when your dad brought us here to fish?" he said suddenly. "You were so mad when the fish bit your finger."
Lara laughed softly. "He said it was good luck."
"Didn't feel like it back then."
She looked out toward the water. The wind pushed her hair gently across her face. "Kaven… did your dad ever talk about mine?"
He froze for a second. "Not really. I mean… they knew each other, right? But he never mentioned much."
Lara watched his profile. He was lying. Or hiding. Maybe both. She didn't press.
Instead, she asked, "Do you think people always tell the truth before they die?"
Kaven blinked. "Where'd that come from?"
"I don't know," she whispered. "Just wondering."
He stared at the dark water. "No. I think some truths are heavier than death. Some people die holding them."
Lara didn't reply.
The only sound left was the soft crashing of the waves, and the unspoken weight sitting between them.
---
End of Chapter 2