Even Forever is Finite

The Time Before

She felt the waves crash against her legs as she breathed, "forever my love, forever".

PRESENT DAY

VALEN
The day had seemed so far yet so close. The excitement was almost too much to bear. The thought of spending a week on a cruise with her new fiancé felt freeing and pure. He was a great guy, funny, kind, and loving in every way. Her perfect lover and companion. When they arrived on the boat, "So this is bliss" she thought. Her hand was warm, almost sweating, interlocked with Noah's. The sunlight reflecting off the boat almost blinded her as she took in the scenery of tropical water, with children and families in bright colored bathing suites basking in the sun. The colors were almost over whelming. Everything in this moment was right.

After a day at the pool bar, drinking tropical drinks that had god knows what in them, Noah and Valen retired to their room. It was a grand suite, fancier than anything she had ever seen. She plops herself on the bed happily, noticing the small windows filling the room with the moons reflected light, and the perfectly color coordinated bedding and furniture. She relished in the moment. Exhausted, they lay down, arms intertwined. Soon, Valen is fast asleep in Noah's arms, her last thought, the everlasting glow of his bright blue eyes, creased at the corners in a warm smile. Now alone with his lover in his arms, Noah is left to gaze at the ceiling in his thoughts.

NOAH
As they arrived on the boat, he soaked in her exquisite features glowing in the bright, tropical sun. Her dark brown eyes contrasting with her light pale skin. Freckles starting to appear like stars in the night sky across her long nose and high cheek bones. Her recently trimmed, but still extremely long, dark hair flowed behind her majestically in the light breeze. He smelled sunscreen, piña colada, and salt. Everything in that moment was right.

Sleeping was all he could think about. After a full day in the sun, he was weary. After a cold shower he found himself seeking comfort. He led his fiancée to the bed. They found their usual sleeping position and he felt her heartbeat and breathing slow as she relaxed in the endless pools of his arms. Even though he was tired, sleep escaped him. He raised his left hand to admire the empty spot that was awaiting a band of love. He remembered the day perfectly. It was sunny, clouds sprinkling the mostly clear sky. They were walking in a park near their house. He thought, "this is the moment" as he nelt down on one knee, pulled out a ring, and asked "Will you, Valen Kristine Miller, make me the happiest man in the world, and marry me?" She of course said yes and they celebrated with their large families that night. His heart was glowing as he vividly remembered the many memories from that day that would stay with him the rest of his life. It was with these content thoughts that he drifted off into a deep sleep.

He awoke suddenly, daylight filled the room and the smell of hot coffee and pancakes infiltrated his nose. He opened his eyes to see the cheery and slightly sunburned face of Valen. "I'm so lucky" he thought as he slumped out of bed to sit in front of a steamy breakfast. As he added sugar and milk to his coffee, and syrup to his pancakes, as they indulged in light conversation about the day ahead. The cruise was stopping on an island, and the boat goers would have time to bask in the sun on the beach or in a small tiki bar. Stopping on the islands was Noah's favorite part. Seeing a new place every day seemed to lengthen the trip and sufficed his craving for travel.

VALEN
Walking off the boat was exhilarating. She was so excited to lay in the hot sand all day. Arriving at the beach they unpacked their bags. Lining their towels up perfectly together, they lay in silence, practically floating in the unsaid words of affection. After a short while they arose off their towels to sit closer to the water and cool off. The beads of sweat forming on her head soon dissipated as the cool splashes of clear water chilled her. She felt the waves crash against her legs as she breathed, "forever my love, forever" as she wished that's how long this moment could last.

Laying in the hot sand, she skimmed her eyes around the beach. She watched as children played in the water and their parents relaxed under colorful umbrellas. Her musings were interrupted by a lengthy eye contact held between her and a woman in the distance. She seemed guarded and cold but familiar and warm, a strange feeling to have when looking at someone you've never met she thought. She started to feel uncomfortable and broke the stare. She shrugged it off and closed her eyes as she attempted to acquire some sort of tan.

It had been a couple days since the eye contact with that woman. She still felt a little weird about it, like it was always bugging her a little in the back of her head. Today they were stopping on the second island of the trip. On this one, the guests could go to a restaurant for lunch or go scuba diving on a private boat with a couple other guests. She asked Noah what he wanted to do and they decided on scuba diving. Neither of them had seen the colorful wonders of a reef before, and were very excited.

NOAH
When they landed on the island they were directed to a smaller boat with 7 other couples. Only adults were aloud on this boat because there was going to be some excessive drinking after the snorkel, and shots were provided. As he strapped on the tight scuba gear and jumped into the warm water, he was dazzled by all the colors and fish around him. They swam away from everyone and meandered through the soft waves. After what felt like only 20 minutes, everyone was escorted back into the boat and handed drinks.

All the couples on the boat got along and talked profusely until the boat arrived at a shallow swimming area. Everyone stumbled out of the boat and splashed into the water. He noticed how intoxicated everyone was but pushed it aside. They were having a great time, why ruin it by worrying.

VALEN
She was having a wonderful time. Scuba diving was amazing and the water was perfect. Noah practically had to drag her out of the water. The boat sped off to their new destination, a shallow swimming area a couple hundred yards from the shore. Everyone piled off the boat into the warm, shoulder deep water. It was so clear, she could see every shell and grain of sand on the floor. In the reflection of the water she noticed the sky begin to darken. She tilted her head up to the sky and was met with a rain pellet, falling from a large, dark, billowy cloud. Other people felt the rain as well and started to congregate around the ladder up to the boat. The intoxicated captain lowered the ladder and Valen, Noah, and the other couples crammed into the boats cover. The rain had worsened and she heard thunder in the distance. She heard the boats noisy propeller whir and the boat spend off on their way to the other side of the island. The waves had become very choppy and the boat thumped and swayed with every swell.

They were still about 30 minutes away from the dock when the waves became increasingly worse. The boat was having a lot of difficulty making it through a swell without violently rocking from side to side. She quickly reached for Noah's hand as most of the passengers on the boat, including them, were flung into the churning waves. She had barely gotten a full breath of air when her head when under. She squeezed her eyes shut and felt Noah's hand rip out of hers. She felt the current carry her, tumbling under the waves. Her chest was constricted, begging for air she attempted to break the surface. Less than 3 feet away from the surface, her body fell limp, and her unconscious silhouette was carried to the shore.

She awoke suddenly, choking out water. Every breath was a pain and she found it hard to move.
She lay in the sand under the still churning sky, scanning the littered beach for her fiancé. Her eyes landed on two sunken, hazel globes, seemingly staring into her soul. They seemed familiar yet cold. She realized they were the eyes of the woman she had made eye contact with in the beginning of the cruise, though she didn't remember seeing her on the snorkeling boat. How ironic she thought. To make eye contact with someone in such horrifying and gruesome circumstances. The lengthy one sided eye contact sent chills down her spine. Seeing someone who she had recently seen very alive, now very dead. Watching this woman laying tangled on the beach with her limbs in unnatural positions scared her. As salty tears stung her torn up face, she thought about her beloved, finding her laying tangled on a beach, with purple tinted skin and dull, lifeless eyes. How terrible that would be, how much she wanted to protect him from her probable fate. How frustrated she was that she was most likely unable to prevent the inevitable. Exhausted from her deep thinking, she laid her head down and fell fast asleep, and unbeknownst to her, never to awake.