Part 123: Back Home

In California, the beaches were bursting with activity. Moms and Dads were enjoying the rays of the sun, while the mother figure would bathe her little kids in sun tan lotions. Boys ranging from the ages of 12 to 39 were heading to the massive waves with their multicolored surf boards. A young girl had taken to the waves, with the express purpose of getting back to what she loved.

Tanya paddled out to the waves, then turned. A massive blue gulp started to swell near her and she then paddled away from it. As the wave caressed her underside, she leaped up onto the surfboard. The wave picked up and Tanya road under it. The tunnel of water formed around her as she sailed perfectly under it’s wake. She let her out her hand and caressed the salty liquid as she zoomed past it. As the tube collapsed, she sailed out perfectly coming to a near stop. She slumped down and took a breath. Being in the water made her happy. But she felt empty. None of it had any real meaning anymore; not with out him.

Not without Seth.

Tanya then jumped as she heard a familiar scream. She turned and saw her friend Lizzie soaring down her own tube. The young blonde smiled, waving to her friend. As the tube collapsed, the other girl got down chest first on her surf board and paddled to her friend. When she finally arrived, she sat up, wiping the water liquid from her face. “How are you doing, T?” she asked.

“I’m okay,” Tanya smiled, “Thanks for getting me out of the house.”

“You needed too. You’ve been cooped up too long.”

“I just . . ..I miss him so much, Polar Bear.” The young blonde almost cried.

“I know, sweetie. I miss Seth too. But it may come a time when you have to let go. I honestly don’t want to but he wasn’t my boyfriend.”

“It’s not fair,” she wept, “We were going to get married. He was going to be a great singer.”

“I know, T, I know.” Lizzie gently caressed her friend’s wet arm.

“I can’t give up hope, Liz. I can’t. If I only knew he was alive. . . .”

“Tanya, stop it. This isn’t healthy. Seth went down in a plane crash. The odds of him surviving are very slim. Not to mention the fact, that the military have already given up searching for them. They weren’t even where they were supposed to be.”

“I know that . .but . .I can’t . . .”

“Look, Tanya, Shelly called me earlier. You want to go to the Worthington tonight?”

“The Worthington.” She said, remembering her and Seth’s favorite bar/restaurant.

“Yeah, she said it might be helpful to you . .hell, to all of us, if we gather at our place and say goodbye to Seth.”

“I can’t say goodbye,.” She wept, “I can’t.”

“Then will you at least come? Be with friends?”

“Okay,” she said, wiping her tears,” I’ll come at least. As long as . . .”

“Don’t worry. I already told Shelly if they are having Karaoke night, we won’t stay.”

“Thank you,” she said, having a warm smile, “Seth loved Karaoke Night.”

“Of course, he loved it,” Lizzie laughed, “He won every damn night.”

The two girls laughed, as the waves rocked them gently back and form. Tanya lowered her head, then raised it up, smiling and wiping her tears. “That’s what Seth would have wanted.” She whispered, “Us . . .reliving the good memories.”

“Then that’s what we’ll doe,” her friend whispered with a smile, “We won’t say goodbye. We’ll just talk about our fond memories of Seth.”

The two friends then paddled into the shore. Once they reached the shallows, they both got off their surfboards and started to walk them into shore. Lizzie wiped her hair back one more time. Tanya already felt better, but still missed her Seth. She looked back to her best friend, “Do you think Dan will be there?”

“He better,” she giggled, “We can’t go to the Worthington and not have him do his beer balancing chair trick.”

“Oh, yeah,” Tanya laughed, “I was never sure how he did that- WHAT THE HELL?”

Lizzie looked to her good friend , seeing as she was staring down in the waist deep shallows. Tanya scooted slightly and then looked out into the ocean as if she was following something. She laughing, scoffing at what just happened. “T, what was that?” her friend asked.

“The strangest thing,” she said, “This yellow and black fish came up and it felt like it was kissing my legs. That was really . .. “

Tanya paused. Then she gasped, grabbing onto her chest. She then stumbled forward, trying to breathe. She grabbed onto her surfboard, trying to hold her balances. Lizzie called her name and stumbled to her. She grabbed her friend by the arm, walking her onto shore. Tanya collapsed onto the sand, holding her chest. Her face was bright red, and she had tears in her eyes. “TANYA?” Lizzie screamed, shaking her.

Then she caught her breath. She slowly leaned up, and taking a deep breath. Lizzie held onto her shoulder, letting her head rest on it. Her friend chuckled slightly, regaining her composure. “Are you all right?” Lizzie asked, “You scared the monkey crap outta me.”

“I’m fine, Polar Bear,” she whispered, “I just . . .felt like . . .”

“Felt like what?”

Tanya looked to her friend, “I just felt like for a brief second . . .I was back in Seth’s arms.”

Lizzie shook her head. “Stay put,” she said, “I’ll get the Camaro.”

Tanya shook her head as her friend ran off into the distance with her board. The young blonde then stared back into the ocean. She didn’t want to tell Lizzie what really happened, she wouldn’t have believed her. She did feel like she was in Seth’s arms but it was more than that. She actually heard his voice.

Wait for me. I love you. I am coming home.

Was this a ghost? Was it magic? Tanya didn’t know and didn’t care. She smiled and took a deep breath, closing her eyes. She held his voice close to her heart, basking in the love she knew for him. She was right not to say goodbye; cause Seth never would for her. She opened her eyes, letting her tears drop down her face.

She silently thanked the fish for letting her know Seth still loved her.