Finding Peace

The Price

NOT EDITED //

They waited. For the small words that would float out of her mouth. The words that seemed so small could effect Arita's entire journey. All she worked for, the blood, sweat, and tears the group had poured into this journey, could be waisted in a single moment. Or, could be driven to life. With a single breath she let the sentence flow out.
"One of you must sacrifice your legs for fins."

At first, there was silence, and blank glances shared among the group. Arita turned to the woman and stared at her with weary eyes. She was so tired of all the pain and loss she had felt that she would do anything to get her mother back and return home. And just before she was about to except the price herself, Nick spoke.
"Well..." Arita spun around and looked at him confused and slightly worried.
"Arita.. Im leaving."
"Wha- what?" She asked, almost on the verge of laughing. "You're kidding me right?"
"Well, it is your mom, and I'd rather not be trapped down here forever."
She stared at him not believing what he was saying.
"You have got to be kidding. I trusted you! I thought we were in this together!" She yelled.
"I like you and all but, I just don't have the same will power about this that you three have. I just feel like a nuisance."
"Fine! Get out! Go away! You're a jerk and I never want to see you again! I can't believe this!" She screamed at him.
After all this she thought he would be the one. The one that would live out his life with her after this was all over. But no. He's just like every other guy.
He stared at her with a sorry glance, then swam away.
"He did not just do that." Arita said.
"What a jerk!" Brooke yelled.
Arita looked at Michael for an angry response. But all she got were sad eyes from him.
"I'm going to do it."
Arita looked at him, her mouth gaping open.

He could not be serious she thought
Why would he do something so stupid? I can't let both my brothers leave me. Not when I was so close to bringing back my mother and giving me a whole family and not after that jerk just left. No way.

She shook her head back in forth in shock. And when she finally could, she spoke in a cracked voice.

"No. No you're not- you're not doing this to me."

She could feel the tears build up inside her, no way could she handle losing both brothers on the same trip. No way.

He swam closer to her and gently placed his arms on hers and gave her a pleading and tired stare.

"I've seen you cry, and work way hard for this, for you to go home empty handed. No way will I let you go home without your mother. Even if it means I can't watch you enjoy your life with her. I love you too much to let that happen to you."

Even though tears weren't visible, they were both crying there own oceans.
Arita gripped her brothers hands and pleaded. "Please- please don't do this me."

"Well who else is going to do this, Rita? You sure as heck won't, and I know you won't let Brooke do it either. So it's either me, or nothing."

"But- why you? Why do I have to lose both of you?"

He glanced down at the ocean floor, then back up into her eyes.

"I don't know Rita, you just have to."
She shook her head violently, " no, please no."

He stared into her sad eyes, with his, and brought her into a hug that could've ended wars. But so much pain and sadness flew out of the hug that you could feel the dread and agony. She cried into his arms and he held her tighter. Even though Arita couldn't see it, Michael wept for the though of never seeing his sister ever again.

Finally he pulled away, and kissed her on the forehead, then turned to Brooke.
When he looked into her eyes, she wept even more than she was while watching Arita and his depart hug.