Page 62 of Rescuing Mia

Despite his reassurances, I still hesitate at the edge of the platform, my fear of drowning holding me back. Sensing my trepidation, Rigel calls over to one of the dive masters.

“Hey, do you have a float she could use? Just to help her get comfortable in the water?”

The dive master nods, passing over a small, rectangular float. Rigel helps me onto it, making sure I’m balanced before gently lowering me into the water.

At first, the cold water takes my breath away, but as I lay on the float, the warmth of the sun on my back and the gentle rocking of the waves slowly ease my nerves. Rigel stays close, his hand resting lightly on the small of my back.

“Whenever you’re ready, just put your face in the water and breathe normally through the snorkel,” he encourages.

I take a deep breath, then slowly lower my face into the water. I blink, expecting a rush of water, but nothing happens. Well, nothing except that a whole new world comes into focus before my eyes.

A vast expanse of coral stretches out beneath me, teeming with colorful fish and exotic sea creatures. I’m so entranced by the sight that I almost forget to breathe, but Rigel’s gentle touch reminds me to take slow, steady breaths through the snorkel.

“Oh my god,” I breathe, my muffled voice echoes in my ears. “This is incredible.”

“I knew you’d love it. Want to try swimming around a bit? Ditch the float?” He chuckles, the sound distorted by the water.

Hesitantly, I nod. Rigel helps me off the float, keeping a firm grip on my hand as we kick our feet and glide through the water. At first, I cling to him tightly, but as we explore the reef, my confidence grows.

Schools of brightly colored fish flit past us, their scales glinting in the filtered sunlight. Beneath us, a vast expanse of coral stretches out like an alien landscape, each formation more intricate and beautiful than the last.

We spend the next hour marveling at the underwater wonders: schools of shimmering fish, graceful sea turtles, and delicate coral formations that sway in the gentle current. Every so often, Rigel squeezes my hand, a silent reminder that he’s there and that I’m safe.

A sense of accomplishment fills me with unadulterated joy. It’s a feeling I haven’t experienced in years.

“You did amazing. How do you feel?” Rigel helps me onto the platform, his smile wide and proud.

I pull off my mask, shaking the water from my hair. “Exhilarated. Grateful. Like I can conquer anything. I can’t believe I was so scared of this,” I admit as we float side by side, our fingers intertwined.

Rigel squeezes my hand. “Sometimes the things that scare us the most turn out to be the most rewarding.”

I turn my head to look at him, my heart swelling with affection. “Thank you for this. For pushing me out of my comfort zone.”

He smiles, his eyes crinkling behind his mask. “Anytime,snark shack.”

I laugh, the sound bubbling up from my chest. Out here, with the sun on my skin and the sea cradling me in its embrace, all my worries seem to melt away. For the first time in longer than I can remember, I feel truly at peace.

We spend hours exploring the reef, marveling at the wonders that lie beneath the surface. Every time I think I’ve seen the most beautiful thing possible, something new catches my eye—a glittering school of silvery fish, a sea turtle gliding gracefully through the water, a delicate sea fan swaying in the current.

By the time we finally surface, my face aches from smiling. Rigel helps me back onto the platform, his hands warm and steady on my waist. As we make our way to the top deck, the sun is beginning to dip toward the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. Rigel takes my hand, a mischievous glint in his eye.

“So now that you’ve conquered snorkeling, how about we try something a little more adventurous?”

I raise an eyebrow, my heart still racing from our underwater explorations. “What did you have in mind?”

He grins, pointing to the waterslide that winds its way from the top deck down to the water below. “I think you’re ready for the big leagues.”

I gasp, my eyes widening in horror. “No way. Absolutely not. I may have faced my fear of snorkeling, but there’s no way I’m going down that death trap.”

Rigel laughs, squeezing my hand reassuringly. “It’s not as scary as it looks, I promise. Here, I’ll make you a deal. I’ll go first, and then I’ll wait at the bottom to catch you when you come down.”

I hesitate, my gaze flickering between Rigel’s confident smile and the daunting slide. “I don’t know, Rigel. It’s so high…”

“You can do this. I believe in you.” His words are soft but firm, his eyes locked on mine.

I take a deep breath, then nod. “Okay. But if I die, I’m coming back to haunt you.”

He grins, pressing a quick kiss to my cheek before making his way to the top of the slide. I watch as he sits down, gives me a thumbs up, then pushes off, whooping with joy as he careens down the slide and splashes into the water below.

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