Page 61 of Chasing Waves

I didn’t know why he said that. I couldn’t remember where I was before this moment with him. It was as if I had been here forever and I certainly didn’t want to leave.

“Char, I need you to promise me something.”

I studied how his lips moved when he talked and the dimple that lit up his whole face when he smiled. I spent most of my life with him, but some things had begun to fade just a little. Not the memory, but the feelings I got with them. This reminded me how I felt when we were together. The warmth that flowed through my veins and the light stammering of my heart. God, I missed him so much.

“You ask a lot for a dead man,” I teased.

He belted out the deepest, most intoxicating laugh. “Fair enough.”

I laughed, too. This was easy with Bridger. I didn’t feel the loss or pain or suffering. Just peace and love. Maybe I would stay here forever, floating in the ocean alongside the love of my life.

As if reading my mind, like he had always done before, he said, “Char, you can’t stay here with me. You need to go back.” His voice was even.

“Go back where?” I was confused. There was only here.

“To your life,” he continued.

The next breath I took felt watery, and I began to choke. Salty water began to pour from my nose and mouth. I was scared and confused, and as I coughed, more water spilled into the palm of my hand. “What’s happening?” I asked as I cleared my throat.

Bridger pulled my board against his and motioned for me to climb over. I crawled over easily, joining him. It was something we had done a million times before. He let my board go and it floated away and then he pulled me in tight to him and I sank into his embrace. I was resting between his legs like I had so many times before. This was comfortable and familiar. This was my life.

“I love you, Char. It’s not your time, though. You need to go now.”

I pushed into his body harder as if I could just melt into him and we could become one person.

“I don’t want to,” I whispered. Sadness was creeping in and my chest was starting to burn.

He kissed my head and I turned my chin up to look at him. In his emerald eyes I could see a storm raging, mesmerizing me as always.

“Your eyes,” I questioned.

“It’s where you should be, Char. You need to go.”

I looked closer into his eyes and saw myself riding a wave. I choked again, spitting up more water. “No,” I cried softly as realization set in.

Bridger held me as I coughed some more. I turned back to him and he looked past me and said, “I always loved to watch you surf. You always made it look so easy.”

A flash of light lit up his eyes, and then I watched myself shoot out of the barrel and fall into the ocean. It was beginning to get difficult to breathe. I shook my head slowly and placed my palms on his cheeks, watching as my body fell lifeless to the ocean floor, our wedding bands hanging from a chain around my neck.

“I don’t want to leave you,” I begged.

He leaned in and kissed me gently. His lips were warm and tender against mine, which had become cold and hard in contrast. When he pulled away, he smiled. “It won’t be forever, just for now. I love you, Char.”

“I love—” I choked again, but this time I couldn’t catch my breath. Bridger placed his hand on my face, and the pain instantly faded and the peaceful bliss returned. As my vision blurred and he started to fade, I heard him say, “I’ll see you soon.”

I felt the burn in my lungs first and then the tingling in my toes as I wiggled them. I strained to open my eyes, but my lids were heavy. I had to blink several times before the blurry bright white light turned into shadowy shapes. Timed beeping that was oddly familiar caught my attention. Shifting my body, a pinch surged through my arm, stopping me, and then a voice filled the space around me.

“It’s okay. Please, try not to move. I wouldn’t want you to rip out your IV.” Then she directed someone to get a doctor.

Confused as to why I needed a doctor, I tried to ask, but I couldn’t talk because my throat was too dry and sore. I blinked harder and faster, my vision getting better each time, and when a face appeared over me, I saw a blonde woman probably about my age.

“Welcome back, Charlee. You had an accident at the beach today, and you’re in the hospital. We had to intubate you when you first arrived, so your throat is going to be sore for a little bit. Do you know what that is?”

I nodded once. My neck was stiff and my whole body felt weighted down.

Another voice filled the room. “Hello, Charlee, I’m doctor Payson. I have been treating you since you arrived.”

My vision had sharpened and my eyes focused on the doctor with beautiful long black hair tied neatly behind her.

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