“Come back!”
“What is it?” Her back is still turned to me.
Panicked, I jump in. The fin is circling her now, getting closer with each pass. “Stay still! You need to stay still!” She turns back to me with a confused look.
More fins. At least six. Oh my God.
I swim harder.
What the…?
A small gray head pops out of the surface and whistles.
Well, shoot. Dolphins.
Slowing my strokes, I watch as the dolphin who first approached swims to her side and hovers. She bobs up and down in the water, prompting the dolphin to mimic her. Like a dutiful student, it follows her lead.
I stiffen when it nudges her with its rostrum.
“Don’t worry,” she calls out, giggling when it bumps her shoulder as it swims by again. “They’re gentle.” She strokes its skin.
Another one jumps into the air and swims up beside her. A young bull rolls to his side, exposing a flipper.
“Okay, little guy. Can you tell me your name?”
Chirps.
“Michael. That’s a nice name…” The dolphin jumps. “What’s that? I see. You want to play?”
More chirps.
“Let’s play, then.” She stretches out her arms.
Both dolphins rush off and then circle back, approaching her from behind. As they pass, she gently grasps the bottom of both of their fins, and they pull forward, taking her for a ride in large circles. I stop swimming and watch. She continues to talk to them as they make soft clicks and whistles in response. I want so badly to remember her name.
Something brushes past me. I turn to see two fins circling behind me.
“Hey there. Me too?” That’s cool.
Stretching my arms, I catch on as they glide by and gently hold on to their soft, slick fins. Ready to let go if they get spooked, I let myself enjoy the ride.
Now we’re both gliding through the ocean, carried by these intelligent creatures. I’m having so much fun, I forget—I don’t know who I am.
It’s only a few more minutes before the dolphins get bored and swim off. Leaving us in their wake.
“Wow, has that ever happened?” I ask.
She’s grinning from ear to ear, and I can see the scarlet blush on the skin of her neck and cheeks. “I know. Wow! No, I don’t think so. Not in the wild. I think that’s going to be a once-in-a-lifetime thing for us. I’m still shaking.” She lets herself laugh. So carefree. So beautiful.
We’re only a few feet away, and I can see the beads of water on her face, the soft curve of her sweet mouth. Those eyes that match the sky.
My blood is rushing through my veins when we swim up to each other. There are no words. As if she can see my thoughts and wants the same thing, she eases closer. There’s nothing in my life I’ve wanted as much as to touch her.
She’s not yours.
Yes. She is.
I pull her into me and kiss her.
