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Percy (pov)
Percy was getting ready to go on a beach trip with his girlfriend Annabeth. He was about to take a shower after just coming back from the gym, sweaty and sticky. He went into the bathroom and pulled his long-sleeve T-shirt off. He stood in front of the mirror, looking at his scars, grazing his fingers over the longest ones. There were some new and still-unhealed slashes. When his fingers reached the fresh cuts, he winced slightly, his fingers trembling. He held his arms out so he could see his own wrists—they were littered with scars and cuts. But these ones were different. He had cut himself. Percy didn’t know why he had done it, but for a short while, the ever-stirring pain inside him had slowed—maybe even stopped. Of course, it hadn’t taken long before the nagging feeling of guilt and pain returned. It had become a habit: whenever he got upset, he would cut.
He stared at his wrists in disgust. His eyes began brimming with tears—of anger and disappointment. He’d promised himself he wouldn’t cut again. But last night had been the eight-year anniversary since he found out he was a demigod. It had always been a hard day for him. But yesterday had been a total nightmare. Considering every time he dreamed, it was nightmares—living it for an entire day had been hell.
He reached for his pocket, gripping the ballpoint pen and uncapping it. The bathroom lit up a little with the glow from Riptide, Percy’s sword. He slumped against the bathtub, sobbing quietly. He took Riptide to his wrist, cutting slowly, blood trickling down his arm as he sobbed harder with each cut. He was a trembling mess; his vision blurred, all sound muffled.
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Annabeth (pov)
Annabeth had been excited all week to see her boyfriend. They had a beach date planned. She was at Percy’s apartment. Annabeth knocked on the door, but there was no answer. She knocked again, a little harder this time, but still no answer. She was getting a bit worried now. She fumbled under the doormat for the spare key. She unlocked the door and stormed inside.
“Percy?! Percy, are you here?” She went into the kitchen, looking around. “P-Percy?” She sounded desperate calling out for him like this, but she couldn’t help it. She went into Percy’s room, but he wasn’t there either. She suddenly stopped as she heard gasping and sobbing from the bathroom. She ran to the bathroom and opened the door.
Percy looked up as Annabeth ripped the door open.
“A-Annabeth! I-I’m—” Annabeth looked around, trying to find out what had happened. And then her eyes landed on Percy’s wrist and the little puddle of blood around him. All the color drained from her face.
“Percy! Oh gods… w-what…” Percy began sobbing wildly. Annabeth rushed forward, hugging him tightly.
“Shhh… it’s okay, l-let it all out,” she tried comforting her boyfriend by rubbing his back. But her eyes were laser-focused on his wrists. He had been cutting himself. She couldn’t believe it.
“I-I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean f-for you to see…” he croaked out between sobs.
“No, no, you don’t—you shouldn’t be apologizing. T-this isn’t your fault, okay? Do you understand me?” Her eyes softened. She sat against the bathtub, gently guiding Percy’s head into her lap. She stroked his hair as she spoke again.
“Percy, I love you, and nothing could ever change that. Nothing. You’ll get through this—we will get through this, okay?”
Percy lifted his head a bit. “Y-you still love me?” He sounded like he thought he was dreaming.
“Yes, of course. I-i could never stop loving you… never.” The last word came out in a whisper.
The young couple stayed like that till morning—hugging, reassuring and kissing the tears away