It takes everything I have, but I finally evade the pull of the current.
I pant heavily as I lay my head on the edge of the lifesaver.
Live.
Keep living.
But then what?
Can I really leave the only home I’ve ever known? The only connection I have to my mother? Can I leave my father, who can barely take care of himself? What explanation would I give him or my only friend Mason for leaving?
If I want to live, I will leave.
I will start over, maybe even convince my father to come with me. We need a fresh start. Perhaps someday we will find a way to return to Miami.
Right now, I just have to survive.
I need rest.
My eyes close. I’ll nap for a minute; then I’ll find the strength to find a current that will help guide me back to shore.
The sun starts coming up, waking me up. I slept most of the night.
Shit.
I cling to the lifesaver as I glance around. Shore is a couple of miles away.
I smile for the first time since I discovered Enzo planned to kill me. I’m going to live.
I consider my options. I could keep floating and hope I drift in the right direction, to shore. I could stay and wait, hoping a boat will pass by and spot me soon. Or I could swim to shore.
My first two options are the safest, but I could be out here for hours longer.
There is only one option I accept. I abandon my lifesaver and start swimming.
I’ve been swimming my entire life, since I was a baby. It comes easily and naturally to me, but it’s still difficult in my current state. I’m weak and exhausted from spending all night at sea.
Why?
The question floats around in my head encouraging me to swim harder.
Why was Enzo supposed to kill me?
Why did Enzo spare my life?
Why?
It doesn’t make sense. I’ve done nothing wrong. I’ve seen nothing. I’ve stolen nothing from the man Enzo work
s for.
There is something I’m missing. Some secret I have yet to discover.
But it makes no difference now. My fate has been decided. I will leave my home, never to return.
I feel the sand beneath my fingers before I realize where I am.
Shore.