Poppy loved the movie Mamma Mia. Was it a little ridiculous? A little cheesy? For sure. But what she really loved about it was that it was absolutely nothing like life, where all it did was disappoint you, especially in friendships and love. So she...
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Poppy never took chances.
It was something she was always cautious about. She'd always kept it safe, making sure she had a way out. Those anxious feelings still there, but made secured. A reminder that made her feel secure about the choices she made.
But as soon as she saw JJ floating face down in the water, not moving even an inch, she took that chance. That leap of faith as she jumped in after him.
Poppy gasp as she resurfaced, the cold water sending shivers through her whole being. JJ? Whipping around to see him laying there, her body went rigid.
Poppy frantically paddled over to him, flipping him over and lifting his head over her shoulder. He felt heavy, his body sinking along with hers. They were sinking and Poppy had no way out this time. The sea water was stinging her eyes; the water pushing back and forth, making it harder to hold him above the surface.
The ocean never felt this deep before. It never felt this dreadful either. This hopelessness. But he was worth it. Using all the strength she had within herself, she gripped JJ tightly, hoisting him above the water as best as she could.
And as the waters of the ocean tried drowning Poppy and an unconscious JJ, they had nothing, no one but their lives tethered to each other like rafts upon the open sea.
A couple of months earlier...
Hurricane Agatha was the storm that shocked the nation. Or at the very least shocked the Outer Banks. Everyone had their windows boarded up; nailing everything down before it even had the chance to fly away.
The fisherman all hunkering down their boats and valuable items that may get lost during the surge.
Soon drizzles of rain turned into tons of heavy downpour. The winds thrashing against the trees; it's fierce winds knocking down anything that wasn't roped down.
It was chaos. But the day after the storm was what everybody had to worry about. Tree limbs scattered across the yard, broken windows from harsh winds and overflowing floods coming from unexpected places. Poppy and her family, unfortunately, weren't the exception.
Sunlight shone through the curtains, the warm light bathing the sleeping girl's face. Her body buried in the mattress. The birds chirping carelessly, making Poppy curl up more into her covers.
Please shut up, birdies. But to no prevail, Poppy had awaken. Opening one eye, she looked out towards the window. Her toes curled, fingers twitched and her eyes blinked as she finally woke. Poppy's stretched her arms, her tired bones needing a head start for today.
I really need to get up.
Struggling out from under the comfy covers, Poppy dragged herself out of bed. Drawing back the curtains to her double-door patio, she opened the doors. An instant breeze flowed right in; the smells of salty ocean and wet earth flooding her senses.
