As Maggie stared out into the quiet ocean, she could barely hold her nerves. What had always been such a calming place now felt like a death trap for her. The cool, salty air made her feel like she was choking. The 15-year-old knew that after tomorrow, everything would be worse.
She looked across at her friend, Cassie, also 15. They had known each other since childhood and what had once been simple friendship had turned into...something else. It started with holding hands. Intimate hugs. Maggie's first kiss; something she'll never forget since she accidentally bit Cassie's tongue. Late night texts. The latter was discovered by Maggie's father. Maggie's Protestant faith had always tilted between begrudging acceptance and indifference, but her father was a true believer. There were many things God could forgive, but apparently a daughter who liked girls was apparently not one of them. The revelation led to a whole terrible sequence of events. Tomorrow, Maggie's family would be moving five states away, and in a week, she would be enrolled in a camp where her "immorality" would be trained out of her.
Maggie started tearing up. "If only I hadn't been so careless, if I had just..."
"Stop it." Cassie walked over to her. "Your father's a dick. That's not your fault." Rubbing Maggie's shoulder, she tried to comfort her best friend. "Nothing about me and you was wrong, and I wouldn't trade the last year for anything."
Maggie took her best friend's hand. " Me neither." Barely holding back sobs, Maggie remarked "why does it have to end like this?"
"What if it didn't have to?" an unfamiliar voice intoned.
Maggie and Cassie stood up, startled. They looked behind them and saw a strange man, wearing all black.
"Who the fuck are you" Cassie barked.
The man walked closer. "That is not relevant," he said in a quiet almost whisper. "I am someone who can see all things. Tomorrow, you two will be separated and never cross paths again. That is, unless you choose to use the power of this amulet." He held out a bright gold amulet. It was encrusted with tiny sapphires, emeralds, and rubies.
"Both of you must simply hold the amulet together and show a sign of affection towards each other. Change will come, but you two will have the opportunity to be together."
Maggie and Cassie were very confused, and before they could question this strange man, the amulet dropped onto the sand. Maggje walked over and picked it up. It felt very strange, like there was something hidden inside of it. She looked at her friend.
"Well, what do you think?"
"I don't know Mag. That all sounded like gobbledygook, and yet, what do we have to lose?"
"Exactly."
Maggie walked to up to Cassie. She grabbed her left hand, and placed her right hand with the amulet in it,
"I love you Cassie."
"I love you Maggie. More than anything"
The two lovers started to kiss. As their lips locked, the amulet started to glow and emit yellow energy.