The Summer That Never Ended

The car rumbled down the winding road, swallowed by towering pine trees and the thick scent of earth and rain. Ryan sat in the backseat, forehead resting against the cold glass, watching as the world blurred past him. His parents sat in the front, chatting idly about the upcoming vacation, while his younger sister hummed a tune, oblivious to his reluctance. A summer trip. Another forced excursion into some distant town his parents had chosen in an attempt to "bring the family closer." As if that ever worked. He was already overwhelmed with stress—college applications, constant pressure, and the gnawing feeling that nothing in his life made sense. He didn’t need this trip. He needed time alone. The town they arrived in was nothing spectacular. A small coastal village, hugged by rolling cliffs and open fields, with streets so quiet they felt frozen in time. The air smelled of salt, and the wind carried the distant echoes of seagulls. It was the place where everyone knew everyon...