Page 29 of Trapped with a Navy Seal

Instantly I felt like I punched in my gut, survived!. Did Alex survive? I hope he is alive. Tears begin to roll down my face, thinking of Alex and what he must be going through. He already lost his mother, if he loses me here in Japan, he will have no one. He is probably so scared. I began to say a prayer for him and Derrick, which did give me a little comfort and hope.

As noon approached, the sun started to glare and my body was soaked in sweat. I reached in the black duffle bag and grabbed water. I was so grateful for the water, Derrick left for me. I then took notice, that there were only a few waters left, I must ration the amount of water I drink. I have no idea when Derrick will return for me, but something in my gut tells me that he is coming back for me. I take solace in that thought and head back to the corner of the rooftop to get out of the sun.

As I sit on the hard concrete, avoiding the sun, I fight through emotions, I begin to think of my sister. I miss her so much. I came to Japan to heal. Looks like my mother was right, I should have never come here. I am so far from home, and I have lost Alex. My mother would really get a kick out of this, and my sister is depending on me. I promised her that night she died, that I would protect Alex and raise him as my own, now look what I have done. Tears flowing down my face, I suddenly hear someone calling my name. I jumped up and ran to the end of the roof, and there was Derrick in a boat reaching for me.

"Derrick, thank God you are ok, I was starting to get worried". "Amber I promised you that I would get you out of this, and I am going to do just that, did you doubt me?" Derricks says with a prideful laugh. He throws a rope over the roof to connect to the edge and says "Now Amber the rope is secure, climb down the rope". I have been waiting for this moment, but fear begins to grip me again, what if the rope snaps? "Derrick, do you think this rope will hold me?". "Listen to me, the rope is secure, You are not that heavy, but if by chance it snaps, I promise I will catch you. Trust me. Do you trust me"? I took a deep breath "Yes Derrick I do trust you".

I crawled over the rooftop, wrapped my feet around the rope, and headed down the rope inch by inch. My heart is beating a mile a minute, my mouth is dry, and I can feel the rope cutting between my legs. "That's it, keep coming down, and I will catch you". Derrick yells out with assurance. I looked down and my hand slipped off the rope, my upper body was swaying from the left to the right, and suddenly the rope dislodged from the roof. I am headed straight down!

"Derrick, Derrick catch me" I am yelling frantically. Before I knew it, I was saddled in the arms, of this strong navy seal and I never felt any safer. He secured me in his arms. "You are safe Amber, you are ok now, I got you". He says while kissing my forehead and rubbing my hair out of my face. I reach up and wrap my hands around his neck. "Derrick thank you so much, and before I know it. I slipped the words "I love you, Derrick". I could have said it a hundred times in that moment.

"Amber I love you, I know God brought you and Alex into my life, now let us find Alex".

The aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami is staggering. As we venture into the water, the landscape tells the story of nature’s relentless fury. The streets are floated with debris, and it’s a haunting sight. Our housing area was fortunate enough not to be close to the coastal area, so not every house suffered the full brunt of the tidal wave, but the quake left its mark everywhere.

The scarce water supply offers a glimmer of relief in this dire situation. It’s one of the few comforts we can cling to. In the distance, the sky is filled with the distinctive sounds of helicopters. Their presence in the air provides a spark of hope, at least for the many other people who would need it. Sirens heard from afar, offer some reassurance that there is still some form of order amid the chaos.

As we paddle to safety I can't help but ask "Derrick, where has all this help been"? "When I made it to the base, they thought this area had been searched last night, somehow it was overlooked" "Oh wow, so had you never left to get help, we would still be trapped on the roof, thank God, you made it back to me safely". "They wanted me to wait and bring a helicopter to you, but it would have taken a few more hours, I did not want to wait, I wanted to get you off that roof as soon as possible, I feel complete now that I have you safe".

In the midst of this devastation, I can’t help but feel grateful that Derrick was here all along. I don’t think I would have survived it one bit if he hadn’t come to my rescue.

“What actually made you come find me and take me to the roof?” I ask him.

He turns to me and raises his eyes. “I do not know, I did not think twice about it. I have been wanting to come and talk to you since you moved in. Plus, I am familiar with these storms and earthquakes in Japan. When I felt the rumble, I just came running to you, it was like an instinct, if that makes any sense?". "Yes it does, actually. It sort of reminds me of how I felt when my sister died. I did not think twice about raising Alex".

There’s a sense of unity in our journey, a connection that transcends the horrors that surround us. I draw strength from Derrick’s presence, knowing that he’s not only someone to rely on but also a source of solace.

We searched and searched for Alex for two days to no avail. The school area had been blocked off due to the storm, but we continued looking for him from sun up to sun down. Derrick continues to offer comfort and hope during this devasting time. Finally, all the water recedes into the earth, and the damage of the storm is more obvious than ever. The community was left in devastation, with decayed bodies lying around, and homeless people everywhere. Even though I can't find Alex, I can't help but think, it is a miracle we survived.

Derrick’s house, though battered, is not entirely in ruins it’s a rare glimmer of hope in this bleak landscape. We walk through the shattered remnants of his home, Derrick’s strong hand holding mine, guiding me toward a room that remains mostly intact.

It’s a strange feeling to find refuge in a damaged room. We step outside, surveying our surroundings as best as we can. The street that was once familiar is almost unrecognizable, swallowed by chaos. The houses stand as hollow shells of what they once were.

As we make our way toward my house, my heart races with trepidation. I can’t help but fear the worst. The sight that greets us confirms my worst fears. My home is reduced to rubble. Everything has crumbled, and scattered to the ground.

My voice quavers as I take in the heartbreaking sight. “Derrick,” I murmur, my eyes stinging with tears, “it’s all gone.”

He doesn’t offer empty words of comfort. Instead, Derrick pulls me close and for a moment, I forget the devastation around us. I find solace in his presence, in the reassurance that we are not alone in this tragedy.

Derrick gently pulls away from our embrace and cups my cheeks with his palms. His arms are warm, like his reassuring eyes that lock onto mine, and the words he utters are like a lifeline in this sea of uncertainty. “Amber,” he says, his voice unwavering, “we’ll get through this. We should find Alex.”

The mention of Alex brightens my eyes and fills my heart with renewed determination. I nod, feeling Derrick’s strong hands enveloping mine as we start to walk through the debris. Our journey will be long and arduous, but the prospect of finding my nephew fuels our every step.

“You’re bleeding,” I tell him, looking at his face.

“Where?” he asks.

“Your forehead.”

“Oh. I’m okay. That’s the least of my worries now. I’ll be fine.”

We make our way through what was once a tarred road, and my thoughts drift to the time we spent together on that rooftop. It’s strange how circumstances have a way of bringing people together. Two strangers thrust into an unimaginable crisis, have forged an unexpected connection in the face of adversity.

I can’t help but look at Derrick, his resolute stride leading us forward, and feel an unfamiliar emotion coursing through me. I’ve always been guarded, and cautious with my heart, but now there’s something else. Is it real love, or simply the powerful bond that adversity can create? I’m not quite sure.

The deeper we venture into the aftermath of the disaster, the more my heart swells with affection for the man beside me. I admire his strength, his unwavering determination, and the gentle way he’s reached out to me. I cherish the moments of humor we’ve shared, the glimmers of hope we’ve found in each other, and the connection that continues to grow stronger with every step we take.

I can’t deny the feelings I have for Derrick, the love that has blossomed in the midst of this chaos. It was as unpredictable as the disaster that brought us together. My heart beats faster when I look at him, and the desire to be near him is undeniable.

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