“Trust me, Maddie.”
His simple, sincere words fall over me like a warm blanket. I believe him. He’ll keep me safe.
“I do.”
I take hold of his hands and close my eyes. Breathing in. He brushes his lips across the top of my head. This makes me jump,and we pull away from each other, taking a parting glance. Then he returns to the helm to steer. My heart is beating in my ears, and my hands are shaking.
Adelineslows as we reach the descent point. The sea is a brilliant turquoise, with sunlight filtering through its surface, creating watercolor patterns beneath.
The blue hole is down there.
Waiting for me.
My heart is still racing as Liam tosses the anchor and the boat rocks.
“All right,” Scott announces over the engine thrum. “It’s the buddy system, as always. Stick together, watch your gauges, and enjoy the dive. This one’s just for fun. Maddie, you’re with me.”
I put on my tanks, then turn back to the water. The dark ripples appear benign, welcoming even. But the surrounding air is thick, and it’s hard to breathe. I pinch myself, trying to push the fear from my mind.
This is where Nathan took his last dive. It’s where he died. Will the blue hole look the same as it did in my nightmares? Will it take me too?
Scott returns and checks my gear. I shiver at his touch as he brushes back the loose hair that’s fallen over my eyes. He tilts his head.
“You good, sweetheart?”
“I think so.”
“You’re gonna be fine. We’ll take it slow.” He squeezes my hand. “Nathan wants you to live, Maddie… let’s go.” I put on my mask.
We enter the water, and the sea wraps around me, cool and weightless. The noise of the boat disappears. I stay close to Scott as the rest of the team follows.
The underwater world opens up, vibrant and alive. Schools of brightly colored fish dart around us, their scales shimmeringlike tiny rainbows. I move cautiously at first, my breathing loud in my regulator. Then I relax and look around.
Scott points to a cluster of yellow fish that scatter as we approach. A sea turtle glides past, slow and majestic, its flippers moving in unhurried strokes.
This is incredible. Can you see this, Nathan? Wonder fills my chest, replacing some of the fear. For the first time in five years, I’m happy to be underneath the water.
Scott writes on his dive slate. Beautiful, isn’t it?
I nod, grinning behind my regulator. He grins back, and everything around us feels natural. I watch all the weight on my heart, carried for years, float away into the abyss like rising bubbles.
We swim farther, the underwater landscape shifting beneath us. The light dims as we approach Carter’s Drop, and the water grows cooler. The entrance to the blue hole looms ahead—a vast, dark void in the ocean’s floor, its coral and barnacle-covered edges teeming with life. Crabs scuttle across the sand. Fish dart through the crevices. A bounty of color surrounds a pit of endless black.
I hover near the edge, a wave of emotions crashing over me. My heart freezes. This is where Nathan disappeared, where the unknown swallowed his final moments.
Scott places a hand on my arm, his touch calming me. He writes on his slate. We’re not going in. We’re just taking a look.
I swallow hard, staring into the depths, half expecting Nathan to emerge from the void, his face breaking into one of his lopsided grins. But there’s only darkness, vast and unyielding.
Scott motions for me to take my time, his gaze tender. I stare into the hole for a few more minutes, then relax. The weight of Nathan’s loss eases just a little bit more.
This is what he loved. This is where he wanted to be.
Scott holds my hand, and we glide around the hole, taking in all the beauty surrounding us. For the first time in years, I feel pure joy.
We linger there awhile before Scott signals to the group it’s time to ascend. As we move away, I glance one more time at the blue hole.
Back on the boat, my limbs are heavy with exhaustion, but my spirit is lighter than it’s been in years.
