Page 45 of Five Goodbyes

I catch up to her, and stop her, holding her tightly; a mix of despair and heartbreak intertwining within me. She struggles against me as we watch in agony as Joseph disappears into fire, the world around us momentarily crumbling beneath the weight of our fear. The flames roar, taunting us with their unyielding hunger.

“Let me go,” she screams, desperate to save her grandfather.

“We can’t go into the flames,” I tell her, horrified to deny her anything she wants.

“I have to save him,” she shouts. Uncontrollable sobs emerge from her. Her grandfather has just run headfirst into the welcoming hands of death . . . and there’s nothing we can do about it.

But against all odds, he suddenly emerges, cradling his unconscious wife, Katherine, in his arms. Without slowing down to look at the best place to jump, Joseph continues his cadence to the rail, and pushes himself over. The fall seems to go in slow motion, and I don’t wait as I start swimming, pushing through the water before Joseph hits. Jasmine is right behind me.

I don’t bother telling her to stay behind. That would be a waste of breath. As we swim, there’s no speaking, just raw determination to save the people we love.

Jasmine chants over and over again to the pull of our bodies. “He’s alive! Thank you, Lord. He’s alive!”

Joseph’s strength and resilience breathe life into our battered spirits, reigniting the flickering ember of hope within our souls. In the darkest of hours, his love proves itself a beacon, guiding us through the unrelenting storm. When we arrive to him both Jasmine and I calmly direct him on where the others are. Because he’s able to move, and keep himself afloat, I tell Jasmine to assist him while I perform CPR on Katherine. Her body is so frail and delicate I worry that I may do as much damage to her as the smoke inhalation has done.

Joseph bellows. “Move, I’ll save her!”

“Wait, Gramps. He can do this,” Jasmine assures her grandfather.

Sediment from above begins to fall around us. I’m in a precarious position and need to move. I get no more than five feet before massive splashes begin hitting around me. My initial thought is its pieces of the yacht, but I quickly realize it’s the Special Ops team.

“Dammit!” is the first word I hear.

I hear the men speaking but can’t talk right now as I continue giving breaths to Katherine.

“I can’t see. I can’t see anything. My eyes are burnt.”

“I got you brother. Stay there, I’m coming to you,” another man’s voice calls.

I don’t stop the CPR and I’m blessed beyond belief when choking and hacking meet me as Katherine expunges the toxins from her lungs.

“Go!” I call Jasmine as I hold Katherine to me, and we swim back to the main group treading water, holding onto rafts and other floaties.

We reach the group and I place Katherine in Jasmine’s arms. “Some of the Ops guys are in trouble. I’m going back. Stay here!” I say.

“Do you have Grams?” I hear her ask someone as I swim toward the special ops men.

“I’ve got her, Jazz. Go help others.” I don’t turn, but quickly I feel Jazzy next to me as we move through the water.

“Grams is with Jacob, and these men are also my family. I’m helping.” I nod at her. I know this woman too well to try to hold her back or keep her safe when those she loves are in danger.

Before we can utter another word, the grotesque sound of metal bending and creaking gives way to another explosion. This time I feel it through my entire body, and it rattles me to my core. I momentarily lose the ability to keep my head above water as I sink below the surface. When I bring my face up for oxygen, I see the worst image of my life.

Jasmine’s face has a thick solid stream of blood running down it and she’s being pulled from me. I can’t move, can’t breathe, and can’t reach for her. My arm won’t move. To make it all worse, my eyes are growing heavy. I look down at my hand confused. I then look back to Jasmine in an attempt for her to explain what’s happening. Her lips are moving but no sound is coming out. My eyes are heavy . . . so very heavy.

“Jasmine,” I shout, but the sound is barely above a whisper. I try to reach for her again as the water takes her further away. Her eyes shut and I begin sinking beneath the surface of the water.

What is happening? I fall beneath the surface of the water, and sink . . . and sink . . . and sink . . .

Chapter Sixteen

Confusion grips my mind, twisting my thoughts as I struggle to make sense of the chaotic scene unfolding before me. The vast expanse of the unforgiving ocean surrounds me, its relentless waves crashing against my broken and battered body. Each surge is a reminder of my dwindling strength, and every breath becomes a desperate struggle, my lungs gasping for precious air amidst the tumultuous waters.

As I fight to stay afloat, a sense of disconnection washes over me. It's as if I’m observing the harrowing events from a distance, detached from my own body. The world around me blurs and warps, leaving me feeling as though I am having an out-of-body experience. I look down upon the scene, my confusion deepening as I struggle to comprehend the reality of what is happening.

Amidst the chaos, Jasmine's safety remains my utmost concern. But as the waves crash and the chaos ensues, I find myself unable to hear her voice. Panic grips my heart, and a surge of adrenaline fuels my determination to hold her amidst the turmoil. With limited mobility, I strain against the resistance of the water, desperate to bridge the gap between us and assist her.

The saltwater stings my eyes, adding to the confusion. Blinking away the tears, I scan the tumultuous sea, searching for any sign of Jasmine. The taste of the ocean upon my lips serves as a bitter reminder of our dire predicament, a harsh contrast to the sweetness of our once idyllic voyage. But within the taste of salt and the crashing of the waves, there is an emptiness—a silence that envelops me, drowning out the world except for the relentless pounding of the water.

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