Eucalyptus & Honey |H.S.|

Chapter 35 - Test of My Patience

Harry's POV

I was floating.

Water lapped over my stomach, cooling the skin that was heated by the relentless sun. My arms moved uselessly beside me as my back was doing the work of keeping me from slipping beneath the water's surface.

My legs dropped as I shifted my body upright in the water, turning my head to take in my surroundings.

Stevie was standing on the beach about a hundred yards from me. Our beach. The same beach I took her to when I was first falling for her.

I smiled, unable to do anything else when I saw her. She was beautiful. Always, but especially right now.

She was almost glowing. Like a real life angel. Despite the darkness of her eyes and of her hair, she was still light personified.

Her skin held a glow, as if the sun was turning her into my own personal lighthouse. The only thing that can offer me guidance even when I feel lost or terrified or alone. My lighthouse. My angel.

Stevie smiled when she saw me looking at her, and waved as she let out a full, blissful laugh. Her hair and short, loose sundress blew in the wind behind her, but it didn't seem to bother her.

"Harry!" she called, but her voice sounded so distant, I could hardly make it out over the roaring waves.

"What?" I yelled back. I could see her lips moving, but still couldn't hear her words.

She threw her head back and laughed, shaking her head as if I were teasing her.

"Harry!" she tried again, and I still saw her lips moving, but it was as if, as soon as she spoke, the wind stole the words directly from her tongue.

"What?!" I yelled again, louder this time.

She laughed again, but I could see her brows furrow slightly. As if she were confused.

"Come back!" she yelled this time, and for some reason, my heart sank to my stomach. There was something wrong. I didn't know what it was. I couldn't make out any other words. But I knew there was something wrong.

I started swimming towards her, pumping my legs as hard as I could, but I wasn't moving. I wasn't going anywhere. Each time I tried to swim towards her, the waves kept me back.

"Stevie!" I called, and I didn't care that there was slight panic in my voice. I needed her. She needed me. She needed me. But I couldn't get to her.

I looked up, and she wasn't smiling at all now. She looked scared. She was standing just at the edge of the water, but each time the waves would crawl up the sand, she backed up, as if she couldn't touch the water. As if it would hurt her.

"Harry!" she called again, louder this time. "Harry, please!"

I swam harder, but I was exhausted. My legs were working as hard as they could, my heart was clashing against my ribs, and my lungs struggled to fill with air.

"Stevie," I gasped out, but I was sure she couldn't hear me. It was hardly more than a whisper.

"Harry!" she yelled, but it was more like a sob. I didn't have to be able to see her to know she had tears staining her cheeks. I hated it. I didn't know what to do.

I tried so hard. I tried to swim to her. But it wasn't working.

I tried.

I tried.