6
I drifted off to sleep, lulled by the storm and
the memories.
I woke to sunshine and the rhythmic crash of
waves against the sand.
Families played on the beach.
I went outside. Children built sandcastles.
A wave crashed in, destroying one. A little girl
cried. Her mother rushed to comfort her.
“Don’t cry, sweetie. We’ll build a bigger one,
even stronger. Mommy will help you.”
Tears streamed down my face.
If my mother had ever told me she would help
me rebuild my castles, would my life have
been different?
She’d always pushed me to be strong, to win,
to never fail. My childhood and adolescence
were a constant struggle.
Like a slave, building a giant castle, knowing
that if it fell, no one would help me.
When the doctor told me my lifestyle had
aged my body prematurely, I wasn’t surprised.
I knew pushing myself so hard would take a
toll.
But not this soon.
I was so young. I hadn’t gotten married, had
children, experienced a mother’s love.
I wanted to scream, to rage against the dying
of the light. But I was too weak.
I spent two months by the sea.
At first, I was haunted by nightmares of the
assault. Then, the dreams shifted, filled with
happy memories of my childhood.
I looked in the mirror. I was a skeleton.
It was a mercy. Letting me remember the
good times before I died.
While I still had the strength, I went to a
cemetery, choosing a quiet spot.
“Ms. Miller, we have a special offer. If you’d
like to be buried with your family later, we
can arrange that.‘
I shook my head.
“I have no family.”
Dropping the charges, combined with the
years I’d dedicated to the company, was
payment enough. We were even. I was alone.
The saleswoman’s eyes softened.
“We also offer funeral services. If you
need…”
“I do. Please, help me arrange everything.”
A voice boomed from behind me.
“She doesn’t need your services! I’ll take care
of her!”
I turned. Michael.
His eyes burned with rage. He grabbed the
pen from my hand.
“Ms. Miller, you’re rich, right? Can you buy
me a plot next to yours?”
I managed a weak smile.
“Michael, don’t be silly.”
He scooped me up into his arms, carrying me
outside.
<
“I’m taking you to a doctor! The best in the
world! We’ll find a cure!”
I struggled weakly.
“Michael, please. Put me down. If you don’t,
I’ll disappear. You know I can.”
He stopped, reluctantly setting me down.
He stared at my face, memorizing every
detail.
He pulled me into his arms, sobbing.
“Sarah, let’s get married. Now.”
I patted his back.
“Michael, we’re not kids. Don’t be impulsive.”
“I’m not! I can’t bear the thought of you
dying alone.”
