The ocean was beautiful this morning. The sun was reflecting off it as it slowly rose into the sky. The water was a beautiful blue-gray color, the waves crashing gracefully. It was quiet, no tourists awake yet, the water littered only with surfers. While it wasn't the Hawaii that I loved, California had its own special type of beauty.

Sitting on my board, I let the ocean gently rock me as I waited for the perfect wave. I let my instincts take over as I quickly started paddling before I felt the wave grab me. Standing quickly, I dropped into the forming barrel, only to completely crash into someone. Both of us wiped out, falling into the water.

Grabbing my board, I angrily swam to shore. Throwing my board into the sand, I turned to yell at the guy following me on to shore. "What the hell, brah? You stole my wave!" His eyes lit up, a huge smile growing on his face. "Sorry, I just didn't know how else to find you." I gasped as my eyes widened, my hand flying to the words on my shoulder, and I took a step back in surprise. "I didn't expect to meet you so early. I mean most people don't meet their soulmate until their late twenties." He blushed a little, scratched the back of his head, and shrugged, "I guess we're lucky. I'm Steve." I gave him a shy smile. "Kai." I bit my lip before speaking again. "I, um… I need to practice. I have a competition soon. You can, um… join me if you want. As long as you don't steal my wave again." He nodded eagerly and we grabbed our boards, heading back out into the water, not leaving until the beaches started to get crowded and even then not leaving each other's sides.

As soon as we both turned eighteen, we eloped. Steve was leaving for Annapolis soon to join the Naval Academy. Neither of us had big families, my family consisted of my grandmother who I moved in with after my parents died in a car accident when I was twelve, Steve's father was in Hawaii but Steve didn't want to see him after his father shipped him off to live with his aunt, Deb. His sister, Mary, was there to watch us with my grandma and Steve's aunt Deb.

While Steve was gone, I would be touring the surfing competitions, making the pro adult circuit with a team and lots of sponsors. I would miss him a lot but I would still get to see whenever he was on leave. He was my forever and I would love him no matter what.

—-

I had my arms wrapped around Steve's neck, trying to hold back my tears. I always hated when he had to leave and I could tell he hated leaving me but he was saving the country. Steve had spent the last 5 years in Naval Intelligence and he was about to go off to BUD/S training. "I hate leaving you." He mumbled into my hair. I squeezed him a little tighter, "I know. But you'll be back eventually and I'll be waiting for you. Besides, you'll probably so busy you won't have time to miss me." Steve shook his head, "I always miss you when I'm gone."

A voice came on over the airport loudspeakers announcing Steve's flight. A tear streamed down my face and I pulled away slightly. "I love you. Aloha wau iā'oe." Steve gave me a small smile before pressing his lips to mine in a gentle kiss. He turned, grabbing his bag, and walked to his gate. He stopped at the door and looked at me over his shoulder, giving me a sad smile then leaving through the door.