Last Week of Marriage Chapter 12

Tom watches her small figure, swallowed in darkness, walk towards the sun, to the water. His chest heaves, knowing he can’t, not now, he can’t go after her. She had said RED, and he must respect that. His fists ball, while he continues to stare, blinking against the deep orange sunlight. Her feet touch the water and his eyes pool with fear. Surely, his brain mutters over and over, surely, she wouldn’t, not now, no. His foot moves forward as his mouth opens with a silent yell that disappears in the ocean breeze.

When she’s knee level, his lungs push out every breath in his body. He feels like he’s crumpling to the ground, but he’s motionless. He quickly looks down to his bare feet, begging them to move, but his heart anchors him to the cold stones.

Tom’s eyes flash back to the ocean, she’s thigh level and he opens his dry mouth again. The breeze blows his shorts against his tight thighs. He grinds his teeth and forces his muscle to listen, moving one leg at a time, in a very long stride, across the cold stones of the patio.

His legs carry him quickly across the few feet it takes to get to the water. Salty water splashes around his calves as he runs as fast as he can towards the slim dark figure. Her hair sways in the wind. She opens her arms, she’s waist level now. “TESSA! TESSA!” His words are drowned out by the crashing waves, the sound, the pull of the sea. He takes his eyes from her for a second only to notice the dark sky approaching, and small stars beginning to blink. The sun was setting, and if he didn’t reach her before the light was gone….SHE would be GONE.

His heart races with the idea that NOW, after ALL of THIS, he would lose her to her own demons that struggle to escape their cage. He races through the strong waves to her, each step feeling like an eternity. He watches as she lets her hands ride atop the moving water. She stares to the sun, only moving with the current of the waves slipping around her. She lifts her head to the sky and he’s still feet away.

His mouth opens and releases a horrible howl as he watches her body slip and slide easily under the water. His heart beats against his bones; his blood is pumping faster than a freight train. His mind is blank, but all he knows is that he HAS to touch her now. He’s got to save her from what darkness lurks inside her, telling her she is not good enough. He’s go to get his hands on her because she is his light in the darkness, she is his savior.

Tom’s heart pounds, his blood pressure causing a roar in his ears, that along with the sea, his mind was lost in a world of sounds and emotions he couldn’t fight against. He pushes through the water, to where she… was. He dives in, the salt water burning his eyes, the sun’s orange and red glow fading fast as the darkness encroaches into the world around them. He feels the bottom of the ocean, its wet sticky sand clinging, clumping, and then falling off as he moves his arms and hands as quickly as he can against the current.

He grabs at everything, pushing away debris, clawing into the sand to fight the current. He lifts up only enough to gasp for enough air to search again. He moves his legs and arms, with his eyes burning against the salt; he searches desperately.

He grabs a dark piece of debris. He tugs hard, only to realize it is not debris but her glorious hair. OH SHIT. He pushes closer to it. He grabs at her body, securing it to his while his mind prays he got to her in time. He uses all of his might, his strength and his will to cling to her while pushing them both up out of the water. He stops for only a second to catch his breath, before stomping his way from the waves to the shower. He is on his knees when he reaches the sand, setting her down gently. He opens her mouth; blows a hot breath in, before turning her on her side and slamming his hand into her back. Hoping, praying, begging the cruelest god of all not to take her from him.

He lays her on her back again, pinching her nose, and blowing into her mouth hard. He returns to his knees, and claps his hands together for several hard pushes on her chest. He returns to her mouth, pinching and blowing, then her chest again. He screams at the irresponsible god who would allow this tragedy to happen. He pushes on her chest again, before turning her on her side, and pressing his large hand on her back. “PLEASE GOD NO! NO! I CAN’T LOSE HER! AGAIN!”  His words falling on deaf ears and he knows it because now he’s utterly alone. Without her, there would be no road back; no life well lived. It would all be for nothing.

He stares into her cold face, placing a hand on her cheek. He leans in and kisses her until she begins to cough. OH THANK YOU GOD! His mind moves as quickly as he limbs, pushing her to the side so that she can spit out the rough salt water. He pats her not so gently on the back as she empties her stomach and lungs of the water. She’s weak, cold, and only semi-conscious. But she’s ALIVE.

When she’s empty, he pulls her body to him, finally releasing a long deep breath. He had another chance, and this time, he would die rather than to ruin it. They would save each other, embracing all the darkness inside to create a world of their own. They would have each other forever, he vows it.

Tom lifts her limp, wet body and secures his arms around her, as though wrapping his wings around her. She settles in to his chest, breathing. Tom’s heart pounds with her close, pounds with relief to have his heart back with him. He steps gently as though not to rock her too much. He brings her into the hut, through to the bathroom. He adjusts her body to him while running hot bath water. He won’t let her go, not for another second in his life.

The water fills the bathroom with steam. He doesn’t bother to undress but instead climbs into the tub with her in his arms. Tom settles her body into the water slowly, watching goose bumps pop up on her beautiful, cold skin.

He lays her body on top of his, allowing the water to warm both of them, and soothing his mind with her in his arms. He strokes her hair and watches her even breathing. She’s breathing he thinks as he lays his head on the rim of the tub. He looks to the ceiling, imagining how much the evil god is laughing at him, laughing at his broken heart and his pain.

They lay there until the water begins to cool. The he manages to emerge from the tub with her still in his arms. He prays he can do that for the rest of his days, as he grabs a large towel to dry her off with. He sits on the edge of the tub with her, slowly drying each and every inch of her. He hugs her tightly before carrying her to the bed. He lays her atop of the crisp linen, moving a piece a hair away from her face before climbing in next to her.

Tom slides in behind her, leaning over to take in the smell of her wet hair. He thinks of how amazing, scarred, pained, hurt yet strong she is. He slides his arm around her, tugging her closer. He wants her near always, his skin craves it and his heart demands it. Just when he thinks she is asleep, she moans lightly, turning in his arms to his chest. She curls up next to him, clawing at his bicep before falling into a deep sleep.

And his heart swells to bursting proportion before squeezing her tightly and allowing his mind to drift to a better day and into what he hopes is a better future.

 

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