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I know without a doubt, somehow, it was him.
"I want to go home," I sob. "I just want to go home."
"Okay, okay." The men help me up just as more people rush out with a blanket and flashlights. I hear an ambulance in the distance, but I don't want any of that.
I just want to go home.
My hand goes up to my bare neck, bare for the first time since I was a child. I look over my shoulder just as a blanket is draped over me. "My necklace is out there," I mumble. To them. To no one. I don't know. I just want it back.
"Well, it's probably swept way out to sea by now, sweetheart. Sorry to tell you, but you probably aren't going to see it again."
My head dips, and another cry breaks from my chest. My hands drop from my neck and go to the front of the blanket, holding it tightly against my chest. The ambulance arrives, and I'm ushered into the back of the truck. Lights flash in my eyes, and I’m hooked up to I don’t know how many different things as they check to make sure I’m okay.
They ask me a million questions, but I don't remember any of them.
"I just want to go home," is all I could say on repeat.
"I think she's in shock," one of the men says.
"Miss, would you like to go to the hospital?" the paramedic asks, flashing a light in both my eyes.
I shake my head. "I just want to go home." I can't stop my eyes from glancing to the water, wishing I would see my necklace float on top of the waves. But it never does. It's gone.
Forever.
After another handful of questions, I'm cleared to not need a hospital visit. They drive off, and the men surround me, looking at me curiously.
"What were you doing out there, anyway?" The man cocks his head to the side, half looking at me like I'm crazy, half curious.
I open my mouth, about to tell him I was attacked, but the words won't come. I hope Willie stays out there, gets buried in the sand and swallowed by the waves. I hope he stays out there forever, drowning in the darkness.
I shake my head, "Nothing. I was just taking a swim."
They all shake their heads at me, and I know how stupid that is. That's the number one rule—to not go swimming in the ocean like that. Never alone. Never at night.
"Do you need anything?" One of them asks me.
"I'd actually like to use the computer quickly. To schedule a flight home."
They nod, letting me in the main building. It's not usually allowed after-hours, since the owners sleep upstairs and don’t like the disturbance. But under these circumstances, they must think it’s okay.
I head to the main living area, wrapping the scratchy blanket around me as I sit in the chair. It takes a few minutes to power on the computer, my eyes zoning out as I wait. My fingers float to my neck, feeling the nakedness of my skin. Feeling somewhat empty. So much alone.
Lost.
The screen lights up, and I squint against the bright light. My eyes pound against my skull. My fingers go to the keyboard as I log onto my email. They’re tired, weak. It takes extra force, extra muscles to press down each square, plastic key. Once my email is loaded, I search through my inbox, finding the one phone number I'm looking for.
Lifting up the phone next to the computer, I press in the numbers, biting my lip when the phone starts ringing. Nerves fill my stomach, and my hand that's holding the phone starts shaking.
"Hello?" comes a sleepy voice. My heart drops into my stomach from the familiar voice. I want to press rewind and play it on repeat, but I can’t.
"Nora?" My voice cracks, and I swallow down my sad sigh.What am I doing here? Why did I ever leave?
"L-Luna?" Sounding much more awake this time, and instantly emotional. "Oh my God. What's wrong? Is everything okay?"
I shake my head even though she can't see it. I have to bite my lip to stop the sob that wants to break free. It tickles my chest, my entire body jerking from keeping my cries silent. "Do you have your brother's phone number?"
She’s quiet for a second before she lets out a sob on the other end of the phone, and it instantly makes me start crying. My cry breaks from my chest, my chin dipping down, tears rolling down my cheeks as emotion overtakes me. My chest aches, and I bring my free hand to rub the pain away.
