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Peter's Story II

PRESENTLY...

**BACK AT THE COTTAGE...

"I should have listened to her. We never should have gone on that trip. If only I had done as she wanted, they'd both still be alive," Peter said to Sharon, with his hands on his face.

"It was my fault. All my fault!"

"They died on the trip?" Sharon asked.

"Yeah, they did," he responded.

"What happened?" She asked, feeling so sorry for him, wanting to help however she could.

"We got on the ship, we set sail and we were already looking forward to all the fun we would have. We spent a few days on the sea before the storm came. Then, it came," he said, pausing for a while to stare at the picture.

"It was at night so we didn't see it coming. We felt the wind and knew it was going to rain but we didn't know how big it was going to be. I still dream about that night. I can still see the lightning when I close my eyes. I can still hear the thunder; the murderous roars of thunder even when I'm asleep.

"I wanted us to stay below deck but when the water started leaking in, we went up. Passengers were all rushing, trying desperately to get on the lifeboats. Everyone was so scared and that fear brought out the worst in them and they acted like animals desperate to survive. I held them close, not letting go even when a huge wave fell on the entire deck of the ship, I held onto them.

"I tried to get them on a boat but there were just too many people. Finally, the ship couldn't hold on any longer. It started to sink and then, the waves buried it under the ocean. As this happened, I lost my hold on my wife and daughter. I swam back up to the surface of the water, screaming their names and searching for them but I couldn't find them and I couldn't hear them. They were just...gone."

"Oh my God, Peter. I...I don't know what to say," Sharon was baffled.

Now she understood what he meant when he saved her. He said he had gone through a lot too that made him try to end his life. This was it. The loss of his family, just like her.

"I was floating on the ocean for more than a day. I thought I was going to die...I wanted to die. I had lost my entire life, my love, my child, my everything. I had nothing else to live for so I waited for death to come for me but the universe had other plans. I was rescued by some fishermen. They hauled me into their boat with their nets and nursed me back to health.

"When I came to, their fishing trip was over and they were heading back home. I asked where they were going and coincidentally, they were headed to this island, the same island I was headed to before the ship sunk. They dropped me off and I made my way here and I haven't left ever since. I don't have any friends here. Never bothered to make any. All I do is go fishing and well, nothing else," he finished.

"I'm so sorry for what happened to your family and to you. It must have been really hard for you. But, Peter, that was three years ago. You need to grieve properly and learn to let go. You have to, otherwise, you'll never be able to make anything of your life, and what would have been the point of your survival? Why were you saved if you're just going to be alone, sad, and miserable for the rest of your life?" She said while holding him.

"I want to. I really do but I can't. I'm not strong enough," Peter said, tears pouring from his eyes.

"Yes you can and I'll help you, okay? I'm here for you, Peter,"

They embraced and Sharon stayed with him, being his comfort in his time of pain.

Later, they both sat at the dinner table. There was an awkward silence and then Sharon broke it by asking Peter a question that he wasn't expecting.

"Do you still love her?"

Peter looked at her, a bit unsure of what she meant or who she was talking about.

"Your wife, I mean. Do you still love her?" She asked again.

Peter was quiet for a moment, gathering his thoughts.

"I don't know. I mean I still think about her but I know she's gone forever so I... I just, I... don't, I don't know," he stammered before continuing, "Since I got here three years ago, I haven't been with, kissed or even looked at another woman, well except for the women in the markets in town but you know what I mean. For a long time, Jane was the only woman for me and I hadn't even considered the idea of trying to find love again," he answered as sincerely as he could.

"Is that why you ran away from me when we kissed...and avoided me the whole day?" Sharon asked him.

"Yes, it was. I'm sorry about that. I guess I wasn't as ready as I thought I was but I'm going to work on it. I promise," he assured her.

And they went on with their dinner.

.

.

.

Back in the town, a strange and dangerous-looking man handed a picture to a shop owner; a picture of a woman; a picture of Sharon, asking if he had seen her.

"No, I haven't seen her before," the shop owner responded.

"This is my radio number," the unknown man said and slid a card to the shop owner, "If you see her, please give me a call."

After handing out his card, he gave the shop owner a small bag filled with gold coins.

"There will be even more for you if you call me with any information that helps me find her," he said before walking out of the shop.

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