AQUA

PROLOGUE

June, 1995

 

            The sun was splendidly up over the people on the beach in this three o’clock affair. Picnics, beach volleyball games, sunbathing and everything one can expect in a fun beach happening. The colors are blending with the jocund mood vibrating all around Hanoi. Bridgette was preparing the hotdogs on the griller, Oscar was talking with a tall old man near the coconut tree, and Brielle was enjoying the time on piling up her sandcastle for the seventh time. Oscar was too far away from his wife and daughter. It must be important business talks again that he cannot let it be disturbed by someone.

“He’s over-business-minded.” Bridgette thought with a smile as she rolled the raw red hotdogs on barbeque sticks over their small griller. At the same time, she was keeping an eye to Brie who is now walking barefooted on the wet dark-colored sand. The waves can be heard, hitting the natural shores brutally. It was a high-tide moment and a hot season. Bridge checked that out from the Weather Teller hotline. She is still trying to be the most appropriate wife for Oscar. As the hotdogs were rolled and the checkered blanket was blown by the strong wind, the sea water took Brielle’s white rubber slipper but Bridge was concentrated on taking out the sandwiches and the roasted chicken from their big basket. The sea has its own hands to hold and pull the right-foot slipper of the playing little girl. The tiny slipper float in the coldness of the water and distanced a lot from her. Without any word, Brielle tried to travel after her slippers. The water now holds her small flawless feet—and sooner, knees.

 

            A couple of minutes passed and the hotdogs were totally cooked. Some even were overcooked but they weren’t minded by Bridgette. What she needs to do is to save her daughter from being totally drowned. After her loud vexed scream when she saw a single slipper almost away, too, people with a number not less than fifty, who are also enjoying the heat, were alarmed—including Oscar. Bridgette, without twice-thinking, jumped into the water as she confirmed herself that her daughter is completely eaten by the very vast sea. The sun gave the sea its sparkling white gems scattered around and a brave loving mother would let herself explore its deepest just to save her daughter.

 

           

            Then the ambulance came into the spot where Brielle is lying down on the sand. Her wet hair is kissing the land beside the sea where the festival-like celebrations of food, sun-protective lotion and swimming occurred. People gathered, forming like circular festival of curiosity and sympathy. Oscar’s face could not be painted by any master painters and the local medical group was so busy doing their job to save two people. People who are weakly collapsed, containing water which should be out from them. They were drowned—Brielle and her mother. Of all the risks she sacrificed for her husband and her family, this one might be remembered as her greatest one. The infinity of the love she gave for the important persons to her would be remarkable, including the way how she covered the secrets revolving around her.