Maines breaks her stare and looks out over the sea before us. “I think it could help for some closure. But, I’d never do it without you wanting it first.” She breathes, letting the words strike a chord. “He was taken so quickly both times, and you never got to say your goodbyes. If we did this…”
“Stop,” I snap.
Maines grimaces.
“It wouldn’t be real, so what is the point?”
“No, it wouldn’t.” She pauses, lowering her head. “But, it would seem real. I’ve done this countless times for people at the House of Hedro, and it truly helps them move on from the trauma holding them back.”
I feel myself begin to sink, the overwhelming feeling hitting me harder than the crashing waves below us.
One.
Two.
Three.
I count to ten and breathe, letting the sea breeze rush over me to calm my pounding heart.
“No,” I reply. “I’m not ready, nor do I know if I will ever be.”
Maines looks at me, and opens her mouth to speak, but hesitates.
“Please don’t bring it up again,” I whisper. “Unless I ask for it.”
“I’m sorry, Briar.” She lowers her head. “I only wanted to help. If you change your mind, I’m here for you. You know that.”
“I know you mean well, Maines.” I attempt to smile. “I’m forever grateful for the offer, but no.”
I sling my arm around her neck. My Maines. My best friend. Perhaps my past self would have stormed off and felt upset, but I’ve changed, and I know she was coming from a place of love.
“What do you think tomorrow will be like?” Maines asks, changing the subject.
“I honestly have no idea. Interesting to say the least.”
“I’m nervous,” she confesses.
I glance in her direction and offer her a reassuring smile. “It’s going to be okay. Silas is with us.”
The wind rips around us, and I pull her tighter as the cold air moves across the deck of the ship, like a storm is on the horizon. I can’t help but focus on the dancing nerves that swirl in my system, because what I didn’t confess to her is that I’m nervous too, and the growing pit in my stomach has been growing for days.
“Are you two going to stand over there all night?” Oak shouts from the table, another glass of wine in his hand.
Silas sits beside him, a smile spread across his face, as he clinks his glass with Oak’s.
“We’d better go, before he drags us over there,” Maines says, chuckling as she heads toward the table.
Oak shouts again, louder than necessary. “I’ll drag your ass over here.”
She laughs, glancing in my direction. “Told you.”
Chapter 3
The night air whips my hair around, and I take another deep breath as I hear it again—my name, softly carried by the wind. I look toward the table where my friends are talking among themselves. No one is looking at me, let alone speaking directly to me.
“Hello?” I whisper into the darkness, but no one answers. Only the slapping of the waves echoes around me.
A chill runs up my spine as I step away from the ship's edge, absolutely uninterested in figuring it out at the moment.
