Page 113 of Carousel

The sea is cool, and so clear I can see little clouds of tiny silver-blue fish darting around. I soak my feet in the shallows, and let a sigh leave my lips. The water is heaven to me after being on the ship, unable to get away from the heat and the sweat – and the noise.

The ground is so quiet. Apart from the rhythmic rolling of low waves, and the squawking of some gulls overhead, I can’t hear anything at all. The island itself is beautiful, the mounds of sandy beach like swaddled babies against the long line of sea, a horizon that doesn’t have an end. The palm trees are gently swaying.

I feel like I could fall asleep here and never wake up.

Cosmer is already stripping off his uniform. He gets it together in a pile on the sand.

Naked, he dives in.

“You definitely think no one will come?” I ask.

“Absolutely. There haven’t been long-distance missions in a while. We might just have to move if any ships fly over us, though. Just in case.”

The sun is in his eyes. He squints up at me. “Don’t be shy. It’s nothing I haven’t seen before.”

He has a point.

Hastily, I peel my own uniform off and leave it by his. A breeze picks up and catches my bare skin, caressing like a kiss.

I submerge myself as quickly as possible. Cosmer comes back towards me, and I know what he’s about to do before he does it. I shield my eyes, laughing, while he splashes me, the way he used to when we swam together as kids. I splash him back. He comes for me, collides into me, and we go headfirst into the sea. I snort up water.

I didn’t want to get my hair wet. But now, it doesn’t seem to matter.

I’m so…

Happy.

We come up for air, kneeling opposite each other. His face is glistening from the seawater. He traces a finger over my arm and stops at the track marks.

“I’ve never noticed these,” he says, turning my arm to get a better look. “They’re just like⁠—”

“The ones Riss has. I know.”

“Were you sick?”

“That’s what she asked me, too, when she saw them. But no. I don’t think I was.”

“Why do you have them, then?”

“I don’t know.” I sigh. “I hate them. I always have.”

“Well, I love them. Because they’re part of you.” He looks at me like he’s in awe of me. “Even scars are beautiful on you.”

And then he’s grabbed me by the arms, the water rocking around us, and we’re kissing deeply.

He breaks away.

“I wanted to do that so badly. Grab you and kiss you. Especially the last few times we swam together.”

“Why didn’t you?”

His face is straight.

“I didn’t think you’d want me to.”

“But why?” I urge, wrapping my arms around his neck.

Now, he looks stunned.