Echoes of the Past

Chapter 19

The days after the storm passed in a haze. Cole was bedridden, his strength returning slowly, and I threw myself into caring for him. The island felt quieter, as if it was holding its breath, waiting for us to figure out what came next. Now that Cole could not take care of us, I had to do his job. So one morning I ventured out determined to bring back something fresh.

When I walked in, a fish in my hands, Cole's eyes widened.

"Where did you get that?" he asked, his voice full of disbelief, and a trace of something else—concern.

"I caught it," I said, trying to sound casual. The excitement bubbling in my chest betrayed me, though. I couldn't help but smile.

Cole looked at me, eyes full of pride but still laced with worry. "You didn't use the raft, did you?"

I shook my head quickly. "No. I stayed close to the shore, I was careful. The storm didn't damage as much as I expected, thanks to the preparations we made."

His lips curved into a faint smile, relief washing over his features. "You've gotten stronger, you know? I'm proud of you."

A week later, Cole was back on his feet, color returning to his face, though I still nagged him to take it easy. One morning, as the first rays of sunlight turned the island golden, he surprised me.

"Let's go on a picnic," he said, grinning like a boy.

"A picnic?" I blinked, surprised by how lighthearted he sounded.

He nodded. "Why not? It'll be nice. I've had enough of staying inside the house."

It felt so... normal, after everything we'd been through. And normal sounded wonderful.

We packed a simple meal—some of the fish I'd caught, a few fruits from around the island, and water. Hand in hand, we wandered through the lush greenery surrounding our home. The air was crisp, cool against our skin, and the scent of fresh earth was almost intoxicating after weeks of tension and fear.

When we reached the riverbank, the water was so calm it reflected the sky above like a perfect mirror. We spread out a blanket, and for a while, it was just us, eating and talking about everything and nothing.

"I've missed this," Cole said.

"Me too," I whispered, feeling a warmth spread through me. It had been too long since we'd had this peace, this quiet between us.

After we finished eating, Cole suddenly stood up, grinning down at me. "How about a swim?"

I laughed, shaking my head. "You and your ideas. Alright, why not?"

We waded into the river together, the cool water slipping over our skin. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt free—free from the weight of everything that had been hanging over us. The river, the island, the past... it all faded away.

Cole stayed close, his eyes constantly checking on me, but there was joy in his gaze, a kind of wild happiness that made my heart ache in the best way.

I splashed him, giggling as the water sprayed over his chest. He grinned back, retaliating by sending a wave of water crashing toward me. The sound of our laughter echoed across the river, filling the space around us with something that felt almost magical.

As we swam closer together, our bodies brushed against each other. A spark ignited between us, a pull so strong that I found myself pressed against him without even thinking about it. Cole's gaze softened, his eyes darkening with something deeper.

In that moment, the world stilled. He cupped my face, his touch gentle yet firm, and leaned in. His lips met mine, soft at first, a tender kiss that lingered as though we had all the time in the world. But soon, it deepened, the kiss turning more urgent, more raw. My arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer, my fingers tangling in his hair as I lost myself in the feel of him.