She added:
WOULD VOTE AGAIN.
I shook my head.
Democracy was doomed.
When we surfaced, Annie pushed her mask onto her forehead.
“Oh my God.”
“Good?”
“There was a turtle.”
“I noticed.”
“She was huge.”
“Never comment on a public official’s body.”
“I think she liked me.”
“She tolerates tourists.”
“That felt personal.”
Hank helped her onto the boat.
She sat on the bench, dripping and smiling, and looked lighter than she had that morning.
Not younger.
Just less burdened.
I climbed aboard and sat beside her.
She handed me a towel.
“I understand it now.”
“What?”
“Why you do this.”
The words landed somewhere unexpectedly tender.
“You saw one turtle.”
“I also saw a ray.”
“Very persuasive ray.”
“And I didn’t think about anything else.”
I knew exactly what she meant.
Underwater, the brain could only hold so much.
