Divine Affinity

50

Eiry had surfed another wave, feeling the exhilarating rush of the ocean beneath her as she rode the crest with finesse. As she paddled back towards deep sea, her heart still pounding from the adrenaline, she noticed Eddie sitting on his board a little further out, a distant look in his eyes. His gaze was fixed on nowhere, his expression one of profound sadness. Eiry stopped paddling and maneuvered her board closer to him. Without a word, she sat beside him, mirroring his posture as they both gazed out at the endless sea. The only sound was the gentle lapping of the waves against their boards, a soothing rhythm that seemed to echo the heaviness in Eddie's heart. Above them, seagulls called out to each other in a melodic symphony, their wings gliding effortlessly against the salty breeze. Not wanting him to reminisce anymore on the thoughts inside his mind, Eiry jumped from her surfboard into the cool, refreshing water. With a graceful splash, she resurfaced and swam towards his board.

"Hey stranger..." She greeted him and Eddie looked down at her. "You wanted to surf, and you haven't done anything but paddle here."

"I'm sorry." He told her in a low tone.

Eiry climbed onto his board, sitting in front of him. The warmth of the sun kissed their skin as they bobbed gently on the waves. Eddie couldn't help but smile at Eiry, her eyes sparkling under the sun light. The wind tousled her hair as she stared at him. They had done that so many times in the past. Sitting on one board and just float. It all seemed like a dream to him. In that moment, everything felt perfect, as if the world had paused just for them.

"What's that sadness?" Eiry ran her fingers through his curly hair, making him close his eyes at her touch.

"I have to go to Denmark..." He breathed. "I have moments I forget what happened. But most of the time it all hovers above my head." Eiry took a deep breath. She thought it was exactly it that was haunting him. She did not tell him, but he had screamed in the middle of the night, scaring her until she realized he was having a nightmare.

"What are you going to do there?"

"A memorial... I wanna be part of it. Stone is going too. I talked to him on the phone last night before I came to your house." Eddie explained.

It was all so easy with her. To open up. To say what was happening inside his mind. He hadn't touched the subject with anyone until he got there and tell her how it all haunted him. Not even to his girlfriend of two years. He just told her he did not want to speak and needed to be alone. But alone did not mean really alone. He meant Eiry. Finding her. Be with her.

"You said you have to go. Do you have to, or do you want to?" He smiled softly at her, raising a hand to caress her cheek with the tip of his fingers.

"I want to." He then replied. "We are responsible for what happened..." His eyes set on the horizon again with that emptiness and sadness that scared her. With her hand wrapped around his chin, Eiry made him look back at her.

"You are not responsible. It's not your fault." She affirmed.

"It happened in our show." He argued, but quietly. "In our show, Eiry. In a way we are... I am devasted..." His voice failed. The end of the last word of his sentence was just a gasp and his eyes turned watery. He quickly tried to dry them with the back of his hand. "I was wondering if you could come with me?" Eddie asked. For a moment they just stared at one another. His words resonating inside her mind like an echo. But she shook her head despite her desire to go, to be there with him, holding his hand.

"I can't go with you." She whispered. "You know I can't."

"Eiry..." His fingers enlaced with hers and then a squeeze that sent shivers down her spine. His pleading eyes hard to resist, but someone had to keep them grounded.