Had to do something to knock my phone down. It was my only shot.
I didn’t know if I had the dexterity to catch my stupid phone if I got it off the ledge, but I had to try. It had a Lifeproof case on it, but that was water resistant, not submersible.
My hoodie and thermal shirt under it were soaked through. I couldn’t take one off without the other.
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Just the thought of it made my teeth chatter. The water was up to my hip now. The lapping water splashed against the rocks and there was nothing but cold and salt.
“Off. Off.”
I laughed. Madness creeping in. I’d said the same thing to Blake last night. I couldn’t get his clothes off fast enough. I couldn’t get him out of the stupid sleep pants he continually wore.
Naked.
Didn’t he know that night was naked time? Us time.
The only time I could touch and speak to the man I’d fallen for. The one who I wasn’t entirely sure existed outside of my own fantasies.
I got my sweatshirt up to my bra. The rocks burned. Could cold burn? Was I just one big freezer-burned slice of Grace? My teeth were chattering so hard I was afraid I’d loosen fillings.
Tired.
My arms were tired. I couldn’t get it off.
I was going to die down here with my grandmother’s damning words swirling in my head. No answers. Just more questions.
Everyone lied to me.
Everyone kept their true selves to themselves.
Leaving me alone.
Always alone.
The water splashed against my belly. I wiggled and thrashed.
“Off, motherfucker.”
Finally, it came free and plopped into the water. I fished it out and wrung out the sleeves. I shook so bad I couldn’t get much of the water out, but enough.
It had to be enough.
I twisted.
“Call,” I whispered.
Nothing but blackness.
The moon had shifted, so I didn’t even have that light anymore.
“Ring, damn you,” I bellowed.
I needed to know where to aim.
“A text even. Something. I need that tenacious Blake right now.”
I stared into the darkness. At least I hoped I was staring. My night vision was blurry at best right now.