Bits

Grayscale

PENELOPE

"Hey, sunshine. Morning."

Samantha whispered to me in the dark. My eyelids were heavy and I can't open them. I want to see her, hug her and be with her again.

"Come on. Open your eyes for me, babe... wake up. Let me see those eyes."

'I'm trying to, my love. I miss you...'

Damn it! Why can't I wake up?

"Can you cook something for me? I'm really hungry, baby. Please? I'm starving."

'No need to beg, Red. I'll make you your favorites. Let me get out of this silly bed. My body won't listen. I can't move a muscle, babe. Pull me up?'

I struggled against sleep's hold over me but I couldn't win. Arms, legs, eyes, and mouth - my whole body was keeping me from you, Samantha. What's the use of hearing when I couldn't answer?

"It's getting colder here... I'm getting tired."

She sounded distant. It's like she has moved farther from where I laid.

'What's wrong, Red? Your voice sounds strange. Come back to with bed with me, I'll warm you up with a hug.'

Using all my energy, I willed myself up. It was useless though. It's like I've been sedated but strapped to bed too, body heavy and fixed immobile.

"The waves are scary..."

'What do you mean? We're home in the city. In our own house, in our own bedroom. We're far from the ocean, baby. There's nothing to be scared of.'

"I can't keep myself afloat for long. Save me, Penelope."

The urgency and fear in her voice alarmed me. Samantha never sounded like that.

"I'm so scared, baby..."

'Sam! What do you mean? Where are you?'

I could move my arms a fraction. A little more and I can push myself out.

"Help! Somebody, please!"

'I'm right here, baby. Wait for me!'

'Where are you, Sam?'

"Help me!"

Her scream effectively jolted me up. No time to wonder why I was in an unfamiliar room or that a vast sea sprang in front of me, I ran out into the beach to where Samantha's voice seemed to have come from.

'Sam!'

I found her in the water and barely able to keep herself up above the waves. Her arms flailing about as if struggling for something to hold. I ran faster than my legs could carry me but when I reached the shoreline, the ground beneath my feet shifted like quicksand. The more I tried to lift a foot out the more I sink solidly down.

Out in the sea, Samantha was no longer crying out for help that it scared me. I watched helpless and terrified of the scene of her battling oncoming waves. A cycle of tossing and drowning water around her and threatening to end her life.

'Samantha!'

Desperation carried my voice farther than my restrained feet could take me to my wife. My cries tore through the sound of waves and the deafening sound of her fears. Her red hair plastered wet on the side of her face, Samantha turned and finally noticed me.

'Swim to back to shore, Samantha!'

Taking heed, she began swimming in my direction. I, too, relentlessly clawed at the restraining sand beneath me. Like a madwoman, I bent down, reached for the sand around my ankles and pulled as hard as I could but all the while, I kept my eyes on Samantha. I saw her contend with the unforgiving waves and so I, who always loved swimming and the ocean, never hated the sight of the deep blue sea before me as I do so now.