The smell of the salty seas is masked by the scent of her delicious perfume. Like pheromones you can't help but need another whiff.
The pier begins to shake, unnoticeable at first, it grows like a viciously cruel joke. You begin to notice, squeezing Lily's hand tighter you say in a calm voice "i think we should leave, now"
She turns around, facing you she responds "yeah i agree"
Both of you begin at a steadfast pace but as the pier begins to wobble more and more your pace increases exponentially. Holding hands, gripping tightly you can't help but feel a sense of worry grow in your heart.
(As you read it is your own decision on how this story shall end.)
The ground feels as though a great beast has emerged from the depths of the ocean. The front of the pier, the place of beginnings has collapsed upon itself leaving the ecosystems, pier and people trapped forever with the sea. It was so fast yet it felt like hours as you could feel the planks that hold you, begin to give way.
Your lover is in front of you as the planks holding her up collapse. You watch as the only person that was able to give you happiness once more falls as you hold her hand, you fall as well keeping a firm grip of her hand you catch hold of one of the planks, but it won't hold for long.
You can hear wood crackle beneath your fingertips as you hold on in hopes that you can at least save your everything.
And yet, lily knows that it's only a matter of time, she releases her grip. But you hold on. You refuse to let go, you refuse to give up.
Lily looks at you, a tear strolling down her face as she smiles softly. And with her voice that even angels grew jealous of she spoke "please, take care of my grandma" as frees herself of your clutches. Falling.
The dark pitch black water, only lit by plankton crashing, consumes her. The water around her turns a light angelic blue as the sky has fallen, crashing into the earth. Heaven has faded into the nothingness of the sea.
You scream, you scream so loud that you can't hear yourself, you can't hear the thundering waves. You can't hear all the others as they ceremonially join in your howling, wailing sadness.
The planks shortly after crumble, sending you crashing into the spectre of the void. Blue electric light, being the only source of hope in the darkness.
Your vision becomes faint as you once again fall into a world of your own creation.
It's dark, it's lonely and you can't help but feel incomplete without your missing link. You miss the sound her footsteps made. You miss her laugh, her eyes, her voice, everything. You can't find your bearings in this space as you float, all you can think of is her. Her scent, you miss the feeling of running your hand through her hair. You miss how she laughed and smiled. You missed how she made you laugh and smile. You miss the way she felt, the way she would run her hands along your skin and make you spine quiver and tremble at the thought of her hands wrapped around your neck. You can't help but need her. Your very being craves to be in her presence. You need her, to hear her, to love her. To appease her.
How would you know what path to travel if she isn't there to guide you. How would you be able to continue forward if there was not a single step of ground to worship. You needed it to continue forward, you still do.
Water shoots out of your lungs like a fountain as paramedics stand around you. One tends to you as the others rush off to save just one more, just one more if that is all they can save then so be it. Yet they need to save just one more. Your eyes foggy as you slowly fade back into consciousness.
The scene before you was gruesome. The waves pushed against your legs as they also washed upon others. Bodies lay thrown randomly by the waves. The piers beams lay ravaged in a frenzy.
Broken spikes of wood sticking like jagged spikes from the sand, broken glass littering the beach making it sparkle different from ever before.
You find your way to your feet, trying your best to maintain your balance as a concussion developed from the quake. All you can do is scream, one word, one word is all you can think of "LILY" you scream shouting yet so many voices drown yours out. To be loved so much, that every waking thought is of their peace.
And yet there is no peace here, destruction is the only thing that follows in the land once praised for peace. The day grows old as you're at a familiar sight, Lily's house. Thankfully her grandmother is ok, you just barely made it in time. Giving her medicine and sitting her on the couch you begin discussing what happened. In a calm tone with hints of sadness leaking through you say "im sorry, i am so so sorry, i thought that it was enough to protect your granddaughter but I wasn't. I'm so sorry"
She responds in a calm voice that hides trembling fear "I know that you tried your best, I know you tried to save her. I just pray that she's alive"
Together joining hands in prayer you do your best, you do all you can. The rescue team assisted you earlier that day in searching the water but you couldn't find anything. Hope was all that you had left, hope was what got you up in the morning, hope was what made you scour the water for days on end. And hope was what kept you alive.
As hope kept you alive, depression called your name like a siren's song. You're tired, scared, nervous and worried however more than all that. You are at your limit. You can't stand it, you don't understand it all while you just barely hang on. Just barely. Like a rope that keeps getting slashed at. Like a pig used for hunting and disgusting self esteem filling pleasure. Shot at again, again and again as it tries to run. Squeeling each time, begging to be saved. Stop torturing it and let it finally end. Do you laugh? Point and stare off to the sidelines pretending that you are of nobility watching cruelly as the pigs bleed.
The water washes ashore drifting wooden planks and debris as you find yourself once again scouring the beach. Nights pass and pass as you give her grandmother medicine and in the nights spend them searching the sea.
Inevitably your hope slowly fades, you can feel your strength escaping you as all you can think of is trying yet being unable to change a single thing. Still, hope fills your heart searching for just a glimmer of light.