We were kayaking to a part of the lake that glowed at night, or so they said. The counselors said it was because of bioluminescent microorganisms, little things called dinoflagellates, that made the water shimmer with this weird, magic-looking glow.
I peeked over at Max. We moved together, our footsteps echoing softly in the stillness. He knew I was scared of the dark, and he stepped closer, like a quiet shadow, always watching, always ready to protect me from something I couldn’t see.
As we walked, a memory from two days ago flashed through my head.
“That’s good,” he’d said, looking over my shoulder while I drew in my journal. Then he’d pointed at a shadow in the trees. “What’s that?”
“That’s my shadow,” I’d told him.
“But you’re in the water.” He was always so matter-of-fact, so literal.
“It’s the one that watches,” I’dadmitted.
He’d looked at me, his blue eyes full of questions, but he never pressed.
I’d fingered the scar on the back of my neck, just below my hairline.
“Okay,” he’d said. “But you need to draw me in next time. I’ll be your new shadow.” Then he’d nudged my shoulder with his.
“Come on.” He’d jumped up. “They’re bringing out the archery bows. I feel like shooting something.”
His smile was contagious, and I’d closed the journal and followed him out to the fields.
Now, on the trail, he reached for my hand. It was sweaty, and I wanted to tease him about it. But I knew he wouldn’t even care. I didn’t let go.
By the time we reached the dock, Counselor Graham was waving us over. We slid our kayak into the water, and the glow sticks snapped to life. Max’s glow stick was a deep electric blue like his eyes, and mine was a pale yellow.
The same color as the flowers I used to hide in.
I sank down into my seat in the kayak, getting my oars ready. The whole thing nearly flipped when Max climbed in.
“Max!” I yelped. “You almost capsized us!”
He laughed, grabbing his oars.
“Too bad those lake monsters didn’t show up tonight. I was gonna help your mom plan a nice funeral,” he joked.
I scanned the water around us, staring straight down into the dark lake, and he giggled.
“Relax. You ready?”
The dark swallowed us quickly. I tried to match Max’s paddling.
Left, right, left.
But my pulse was already racing ahead.
And then, out of nowhere, my Daddy’s voice cracked through the night.
“Mackenzie! You can never go into my basement. Never. YOU HEAR ME?”
I froze. My chest locked up. I only heard my Daddy’s voice in the shadows.
I let out a little squeak, trying to push his voice out of my ears. A warm hand on my leg stopped me. A different voice cut through the memory.
“Trouble. It’s okay. We’re almost there.”
Max was my anchor, always pulling me back to safety.
