Things are developing in the relationship of Elsa and Anna in Shore. I may not give them heart-wrenching moments like other three stories that have been ripping my heart out… but this chapter… ah, this one might make you guys hate me.

But hey, it's Elsanna.

And yo! So I put Secretly Geek's song "Shore" in here. If you wanna hear it, it's on Band Camp (you can look it up) and listen to it. It's a super amazing song. Follow their Tumblr: Frozest!

Disclaimer: Disney owns FROZEN, Secretly Geek owns "Shore," and ASAMESHI (find 'em on Deviantart and Tumblr) owns the cover photo.

The Fourth of July is a known holiday all across the United States: the day we claimed our independence from the British. Which is cool, I guess but I wasn't all American to really give it any thought because all I cared about was the food and the fireworks. Sure I was born here and I'm legally an American gal but my family is from Norway. My great grandparents came here a long time ago and thus, families continue and here I am.

Hooray for America.

Today was the start of the big celebration and it was the one day I saw how busy Arendelle Cove could get. The streets were lined with booths of all kind, representing the local shops (and the two Starbucks) by shouting out at people who walked by. It was like the famers market on a Sunday that I used to go to with Mom when we lived in Los Angeles for a period of time.

Everything was colorful, exhilarating, and exciting. I was grinning ear to ear as I walked around town with my group of friends. We were chattering like birds with festive snacks in our hands, decorated in stars and stripes. Our faces were painted for the fun of it. The sun was beating down onto our bodies making our clothes stick to our skin. Laughing, one arm was looped with Rapunzel's and the other looped with Merida's. I wanted to see everything, taste all the foods— This was my kind of fun: the whacky, in-your-face, bright fun that fit my personality to a T.

It was loud and kids were playing with Snappers in the streets. A couple of teens were passing out illegal sparklers to save for the night ahead. Fireworks were going to be lit up from the ocean and I was going to watch them with friends on the beach when it got dark.

My parents were so happy that I was actually enjoying myself for once, socializing and acting like a teenage girl. My friends had called me up early that morning to tell me their plans and I had jumped at the chance. Stumbling around the room, I had pulled on my jean shorts and a white T-shirt to mess up, tugging on my sandals as I bounded out the door, telling my parents where I would be at break-neck speed.

So there I was, eating funnel cakes and ice cream. My face was painted to look like a cat. My shirt had been drawn and dribbled on. My hands were sore and raw from tug-of-war on the beach. I had forgotten to apply sunscreen so my skin wasn't so much sun-kissed, more like I had been boiled with a bunch of lobsters. But I didn't care. The color, noise, and shine was enough to make me grin and ignore my blisters and cuts and whatever else I had earned from the party.

The boys had tried their hand at a test of strength, which was hilarious to watch. Poor Hans, although unmatched by all (except Eugene) in good looks, could barely lift the hammer. Eugene had tried but his best but the bell wasn't quite reached. When Kristoff had taken the hammer from him, he slammed it down so hard the bell was almost broken off. I soon became the proud owner of a reindeer plush courtesy of my best guy friend.

We rode cheap carnival rides and one almost broke down. That was super scary because it was the one that spun non-freaking-stop at a rapid speed. I had to stumble my way to a trashcan afterwards and lost my delicious hotdog in the process (which wasn't so delicious coming up as it was going down), with Rapunzel tenderly rubbing circles in my back as I vomited gracelessly into the hot, smelly garbage.

Fun times.

Really, though, this day was going amazingly. I didn't realize what I had been missing out on. Being with great friends, shitty food, and carnivalesque rides was what life was all about.

For the first time, I wasn't thinking of Elsa. My mind was so cluttered with the adrenaline of being surrounded by the entire population of Arendelle Cove that I didn't consider my mythical girlfriend was probably sulking in our sandy shore, thinking I had abandoned her. It wasn't until I saw the flag of the town flutter proudly in the summer breeze beside the American flag did I realize I was going to be late. The silhouette of the mermaid in the middle of the banner made me freeze in our pleasant stroll and Merida turned, her brow lifting.

"What're you doing?" she inquired. "C'mon, Anna, we're getting lunch."

In front of god and everybody, I stuttered out her name, "Elsa…"

"Who?" Rapunzel questioned but I didn't listen. Unhooking my arms from them, I dropped my poor ice cream and started tearing down the streets.

Oh god, what kind of girlfriend was I? Not even mentioning that there was a celebration in the town so I might be absent. Sweet Jesus, I hope she was still there.

I ended up tripping as I hit the beach, climbing through the hike down to the cove with scraped knees. I didn't bother tending to the wounds. Nothing compared to the amount of panic in my veins.

When I arrived finally, I stumbled over my own feet and collapsed onto the sand with a dull thud. I heard laughing and I glared up to see Elsa in the water, holding her sides and her cheeks flushed with mirth.

"Yeah, yeah," I grumbled. "You should totally laugh at the amount of trouble I had to go through to get here."

She wiped her eyes, still grinning. "I was wondering if you were coming today."

"T-today?" I repeated, getting onto my feet and brushing my smarting knees tenderly. "What are you talking about?"

"Isn't it your big celebration today?" she said, cocking her head to one side.

"Yeah… how'd you know?" I said, gaping at her.

"You guys set off big, pretty explosions at night," she told me, pointing up into the sky, which was a beautiful shade of blue. "I like watching them."

"So you knew that I might miss out on one meeting?"

"Anna, I don't care if you have fun with your friends. Sweetie—" I shivered pleasantly at this new pet name. "—if you didn't come today, that's what I would assume. I want you to have fun and be yourself with others."

"You don't mind?" I said with disbelief.

"Of course not! Anna, really. Do you honestly believe that I would feel bad if you were to miss one or two days? We've been meeting for a long time now and I'm well aware that you have a life outside of us."

"Elsa…"

"I want you to be you. Because if such events happen where we can't be together then I would want you to find all the happiness in the world, forget about me, and be the best Anna you can be without me."

How come she was such a realist? It was one of the very few things that bothered me about her. Elsa was spot on and realistic while I was a romantic daydreamer. It was so odd to be told something I was barely aware of because, usually, I was on the opposite end and telling her those things.

I decided to be honest.

"Elsa, I don't like thinking about that," I said blandly.

"I know," she said, sounding guilty. "But… you gotta think ahead sometimes."

We fell into a calm silence, the only sounds being the swishing of the ocean, the call of the seagulls, and the buzzing of the street party happening behind us beyond the cliffs.

"So you don't mind if I hang out with my friends?"

"What did I just say?" she grinned.

I laughed. "Okay, okay. Thank you, Elsa."

"Hey, I'm just doing what's best for my girlfriend." Then she giggled. "Ooh, I actually like that word. Humans can come up with pretty cool phrases. Mate just sounds too formal."

"And we're technically not mating," I pointed out. "We'd… uh… we'd actually be unable to mate since we're two girls but hey, whatever." I really had no intention on pursuing that conversation further in spite of some of the more... 'pleasant' visions of Elsa that would visit me in my dreams.

Elsa rolled her eyes with a wide grin. "Yeah, whatever." She waved her hand, as if she was commanding me to go. "Have fun with your friends, Anna. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"It's a date," I said, crossing my heart. I blew her a kiss. "See you then."

That was probably a good time to tell her that I loved her.

But I didn't.

I returned to my friends, out of breath and sweaty. They were all staring at me with wide eyes and bewildered expressions. They had been standing where I left them: in between the snow cone stand and the pizza place stand. I drew in a sharp breath and straightened, grinning at them.

"Sorry. I had an errand to run," I lied hastily.

"Don't… what?" Rapunzel said, her face contorted with confusion. "And errand?"

"Mhm." I nodded, hoping that would be the end of the discussion.

"Right, okay. Well, then who the hell is Elsa?" Merida demanded, crossing her arms.

"Wha-?"

Then it hit me. I had said her name before I took off running like a maniac down the crowded streets. I must've looked like a complete mess now, sand on my stinging knees and my skin smelling like saltwater, the way I usually did when I returned from my visits with Elsa.

My stomach leapt into my throat and I almost puked for the second time that day. I hadn't quite blown Elsa's cover but she was no longer a secret to my friends. They were shooting me expectant looks, searching for an explanation to my madness.

I had none.

"She's uh… she's a friend," I said lamely, cringing.

"A friend?" Hans repeated. "Then where is she?"

"Yeah, we'd love to meet her," Eugene supplied with a genuine smile.

"I've never heard of an Elsa around town before," Kristoff said slowly.

"Wasn't there a girl that went to our school with that name?" Rapunzel said.

"Yeah, in freshman year," Hans said with a shake of his head. "She moved to Toronto, remember?"

"Oh yeah."

"Then wait… is she, like, back or something?" Kristoff asked.

"No, her parents would've reopened the clothing shop," Eugene reminded.

"I thought they sold that when they moved," Rapunzel said.

"Right! They gave it to their neighbors, didn't they?" Merida added in.

They were all reminiscing about an Elsa that wasn't my Elsa. I watched them have a conversation and, for the first time, I felt like an outcast in their little clique. They were usually so open and welcoming but now… now they were talking about some girl and I was out of the loop.

Almost as if I was back to square one.

Thankfully, after an argument between Hans and Eugene over whether or not she had been the captain of the debate team, we moved on to ride the ferris wheel. Plus, the topic of my Elsa was dropped. Another plus, I was arm-in-arm with my girl friends again as we laughed, walking along the booth lined streets like nothing out of the ordinary happened.

That night, we joined the rest of the town on the beach, my parents talking to Rapunzel and Merida's parents a few blankets away from us. I was perched in Kristoff's lap— which was actually very comfortable considering— waiting for the fireworks to start. My reindeer toy was in my grasp again, Kristoff being the caretaker of it when I had run off to apologize to Elsa. Rapunzel and Eugene were beside us, the brunette in her boyfriend's lap. Merida had given Hans a dagger-filled glare, as if to tell him not to get any ideas. Rather, he sat on her left, Kristoff on her right.

We had a picnic dinner that was supplied to us from Kristoff's workplace. I had tucked my reindeer into my lap as I bit into my oozing grilled ham and cheese, watching the star-strewn sky. I loved being away from the big city. I could see the constellations, hear the local sounds, and not taste pollution in my mouth.

Bliss.

Arendelle Cove was bliss.

"Thanks a lot, you guys," I let out softly. "You've made my stay here incredible… really. You're fantastic friends."

And I wasn't just talking to them. I was speaking out to Elsa, wherever she was in the big blue, and thanking her as well. Rapunzel took my free hand that wasn't gripping my sandwich and Kristoff nuzzled the back of my head kindly with his nose.

As the first few fireworks lit up the sky with powerful bursts and booms, I felt a smile tug at my lips. I felt a warmth spread through my being. I felt welcomed. I felt part of the group, part of the town.

I felt like I was home.

The next week was probably the worst week of my life. After all that had happened with me and my new friends and my brilliant girlfriend, I thought that life could only get better and better.

But I was wrong.

So very wrong.

It didn't start off that way, however. My week was going great on Sunday, my ukulele in my grasp and Elsa bobbing in the water below me. We had finally finished the song and we were giggling, trying to catch our breath in order to sing it.

"Okay, hold on," I gasped. "Can we just start?"

"Yeah, sorry," Elsa agreed with a nod. "It's your first lyric, though."

"Of course… right— um." I placed my fingers on the neck of the instrument, putting them in the correct position for the start of the song. I cleared my throat and began to play, winking down at the beautiful creature below. "Your hair color's great, your seashells are hot. You only talk a little…"

"And you talk a lot," she jumped in.

"Your home is the sea, my home is the land."

"I'd give almost anything to step in that sand."

I strummed for a beat before going, "We couldn't be farther apart. But, hey—"

In perfect harmony, our voices rang through and intertwined with one another, singing the chorus of our personal ballad.

"Meet me by the sandy shore
Down by the rock
At our favorite port
I'll chat you up on the bank
Small talk at our rock
Down by the dock
We'll stay that way
'Till our parents squawk
Going home alone
I'd rather walk the plank."

Smiling at one another, I continued to play cheerfully. Then I opened my mouth and continued to sing out.

"I'm young and homebound," I went

"I'm stuck in line for the throne," she added grimly.

"You're a queen. That's so cool!" I insisted.

"I'd rather be disowned," she echoed. "It romanticizes isolation."

"I guess I know how you feel. I've spent my life on vacation from what hurt from what was real," I sang.

We had pieced together some old conversations we had a while back when we had just began to get to know one another. They fit perfectly into our song and I couldn't be prouder of the results.

"Life can really get you drowned," Elsa teased. "But, hey."

Again, we repeated the chorus, ending our song. The sound of the ukulele faded away as we laughed some more, purely enjoying each other's company. Elsa tickled the bottom of my foot playfully with a gleam in her eye.

"You're an amazing singer," she complimented.

"You too," I told her honestly.

Again, I wanted to tell her that I loved her.

But I didn't.

Instead, I played her a few songs that come from the mainland and she closed her eyes with bliss, listening to the sound of my voice and my instrument. Afterwards, I got in the water and I taught her how to play Marco Polo in our little cove. She was such a cheater— although she would never admit it— because she was so synchronized with the water around her that she damn well knew where I was in spite of her eyes being shut.

When I accused her of cheating, she got a little peeved and we bickered for a good five minutes until it hit us what we were arguing about. Then we cracked up laughing again.

Pretty soon I had to go home. Elsa always looked so crestfallen when I started packing up that it broke my heart each and every time. I really wanted to spend the night on the beach and just talk with her until I fell asleep but… what would that mean for Elsa? Just floating on her back until the morning when I woke up?

No… as much as I knew our great difference in species prevented us from having a 'normal' relationship, I craved to curl up beside her in a warm bed and share a pillow talk moment with her. After a day on the beach, my favorite thing was to strip out of my clothes, sink into my pajamas, and collapse into bed. With Elsa in that equation, it would equal perfection.

I raised my hand in farewell as I walked back up the cliffs, blowing her a kiss. Elsa returned the gesture with a shy smile.

When I got home, however, I wasn't expecting Duke to be there, flanked by two large men in military uniforms and deep scowls. They were sitting on the couch, drinking my Mom's tea, which would have been really funny if not for my complete confusion over why they were here. Dad was talking with Duke ferociously in harsh whispers, his face clouded and a delicate shade of puce across his cheeks. Mom was washing the dishes distractedly, almost as if she were trying to act like some sort of housewife.

"Uh… hiya?" I choked out, plopping my bag onto the floor.

Mom looked at me desperately and I read her expression with concern. It was like she was begging me to tell her the truth over some horrible circumstance. I scrunched my brows and fear bolted through me like lightning. The next thing I knew, Duke was storming over to me and forced me against the door, my heart hammering in my chest.

"What the fuck do you want!?" I actually swore in front of my parents. But I didn't care. The overwhelming terror that was thrumming through my body called for the outburst. "Get away from me, you creep!"

"Tell me, Anna," he snarled into my face, his breath stinking like dead fish. "Tell me when and where you met the mermaid."

My hammering heart stopped thundering and my body was frozen solid. Time had halted and I prayed that I could shrug it off like I did the day he basically stalked me to the arcade and questioned me. I looked at my parents for help but they weren't giving me the confused expressions that I had hoped for.

Instead, to my absolute horror, they were glaring at me accusingly.

It was then that I realized they believed in Duke's findings and evidence of Elsa being a real creature. My parents weren't idiots and I knew that with pride but this… this must have been really something to persuade them that a mythical creature was living amongst the fish and the reefs and the waves.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said timidly.

"Anna…" croaked my father. "Please tell us the truth."

"Think of the scientific discoveries that could be made from this development," my mother supplied.

Even though they wanted answers, I still managed to hear the apologetic tones in their voices. But that did nothing to calm me.

"There's no truth to be told!" I shot back. "I have no idea what this is about! There is no mermaid! It's a myth. She's fake, nothing. She's just a silly icon that—"

"She?" Duke inquired.

Shit.

"I meant 'it!'" I cried. "But mermaids are usually 'she' because a merman is a 'he.'" I laughed weakly, my eyes darting over to the two goons sitting on the couch, acting like nothing was out of the ordinary in this household. "'Cause uh… gender differences and all."

"Anna…" Dad let out again, twisting his hands nervously— a quirk I had picked up from him. And for a fleeting moment, I wanted to detach myself from any similarities I had with my parents. I wanted nothing to do with them.

I was furious.

"You're going to believe this weirdo over your own daughter!?" I screeched, feeling betrayed by my parents, threatened by Duke, and protective of Elsa all at once, my emotions swirling in the pit of my stomach. "What good will that do!? Mermaids are fake!"

"False!" Duke screamed into my face. "I know they're real! I know they exist! You stupid, scatterbrained child— Grab her bag!"

My eyes snapped onto the goons who had jumped to their feet, Mom's good china falling from their grips and smashing to bits on our floor. Mom winced but didn't say anything, her hand desperately clinging to Dad's arm. The goons lumbered over and I made a grab for my bag. One of the goons caught me by the shoulders and pushed me up against the wall while his buddy gathered up my things. He shuffled through them wordlessly, the silence deafening and my eyes wet.

He grunted as he pulled out my notebook and drawing pad. I found my voice finally and yelled out, hoping someone in the neighborhood would hear me.

"You can't do that! You need a search warrant, you fucking idiot!" I shrieked, not giving a damn that my parents were standing right there. Years of pent up frustration towards them, years of loneliness, and my undying love for Elsa were all creating a storm in me and I wanted them to be released. "Give me back my things!"

"Is she real or not!?" roared Duke.

"I'm not answering shit!"

"Tell me now!"

"Let me go! Get your fucking hands off of me!"

"Anna—" my mother squeaked out.

I started to kick and flail my fists, hoping that they would make contact with something so I could break free, get my stuff, and run away. Maybe one of my friends could hide me until the craziness died down.

No matter, I wasn't going to give up without a fight. If it meant protecting Elsa from certain experimentation, then I would walk through the fires of hell for her. I would gladly earn a few bumps and bruises for her. And, if necessary although I hoped tonight wouldn't come to it, I would die for her.

"You're not going to get anything out of me!" I declared boldly, glaring up at my captor and hating his stupid mustache. "Let me go or so help me—"

All he did was growl and push me back into the wall. I tried to kick him in between his thighs but to no avail. Duke was sneering from behind his goon, looking powerful with these men in his command. He was flipping through my notes and the other goon was holding out my sketch pad.

"Those are nothing! I'm a writer! She's a character—" I tried.

"Tell the truth!" boomed my father, startling my mother and I.

Silence fell and I gaped at my father. He was dead serious about everything that was going on. I knew he loved me but he had always put his work blindly before both me and my mother. This was obviously something incredibly important and convincing that he was willing to put my pleads to the side and be this… this… this madman.

"David—" Mom whispered.

"No… no, I'm done. I'm done with this silly argument," he said dangerously. "Anna… you're going to tell us the goddamn truth right now."

"We promise no harm will come to her," Mom offered weakly.

I could tell that she wasn't really in on everything that was going on anymore. I felt a rush of affection for my mother pass through me. But I could also tell that she was struggling with her scientific side and her parenting side. She wanted me to tell the truth but she didn't want to see me hurt.

"Mama," I whimpered.

She was close to crying, sliding her lids shut and covering her eyes with her hands. I stopped fighting and I felt my pent up tears slide down my cheeks.

"Do as your father says, Anna," Duke said with a menacing hiss, smirking down at my notes. "Quite an informative collection you have here. You really have no point in lying now… is she real?"

I'm sorry, Elsa.

"…Yes… she's real," I said.

You're a shit girlfriend. You promised. You swore it to yourself, swore it to her. You've landed in her in danger now.

"Where is she, then?" Duke demanded coldly.

A shimmer of hope.

I glared at him, the grip the goon had on me slackening. I clenched my fist and waited for the right opportunity to clock him one square in the jaw.

"Like I'd tell you that," I snarled with an ugly smirk. "You really think I'm that stupid."

"No matter… we know she exists and now we'll search every part of the coastline to find her," Duke laughed.

"Fat chance! She won't come back! If I'm not there, she won't show up when she realizes I'm gone!" I shouted out. "She'll think I moved without notice. I've told her all about my miserable existence bouncing from place to place." That comment was meant to hurt my parents and it was pretty damn successful. I didn't regret it.

Not then, at least.

"She'll… give up on me…" I let out the tiniest sob when I realized that she would believe I left her for good.

But it's for her protection, to keep her safe from lunatics like Duke. I looked desperately at my parents in hopes they would understand what I was talking about. The girl that had me daydreaming, who visited me in my sleep, who kept me smiling all this time… the girl that I was in love with and I was too stupid not to tell her before tonight.

The first one to have comprehension settle inside was my mother, who widened her eyes and sent me the tiniest nod of understanding.

With a burst of energy, I swung my fist up and had it collide with the side of the goon's face. He staggered backwards and I made a break for it, swiping my books away from Duke and trying to retreat to the back door. I hardly made it, however, for the second goon grabbed me around the waist and hoisted me into the air. I shouted out slurs that Merida had taught me, cried out for help, and threw a goddamn tantrum.

The next thing I knew, I felt a small prick on my neck and intense drowsiness flowed through my body. I went limp, my books slipping from my grip, and my lids falling shut.

They drugged me with a tranquilizer.

Son of a bitch they were prepared for a fight.

When my world went black, the only word I managed to utter out was that of my endangered mermaid.

I woke up in my bedroom, the room dark and the sky full of stars. I rubbed my eyes and sat up groggily. My neck was aching and my body was heavy and for an instant, I forgot where I was and what happened. Was it all a dream?

If it was, it was some crazy-ass dream of Duke finding out that Elsa was real. I mean— pfft, I wouldn't do that!

But as I felt the drugs leave my system, the impact of the entire situation that was very, very real made my eyes snap to attention my adrenaline pulse through my veins. I jumped to my feet and ran to my bedroom door, haplessly jiggling the knob in hopes that it would give way and open.

Locked.

I kicked it hard with my bare foot, howling in pain when I realized that wasn't such a good idea. Swearing like a sailor, I pounded my fist on the door and wailed for someone to come and get me out.

The next voice I heard was Mom's.

"Anna… you're awake," she said.

"Mama!" I voiced. I hadn't called her that since I was ten. "Let me out. I need to warn her! Elsa is in danger, Mom. Dad is nuts! I can't believe that he… he would do such a thing to me."

I could hear both of our hearts shattering. Mom was sighing— or shuddering out sobs. I could hardly tell. The only thing on my mind was the very possible possibility of Elsa being snatched from the cove and thrown into that ghastly glass tank in some shit aquarium or the metal slab with scalpels and masked, faceless scientists that I had nightmares about. Only trouble was, the scientists were no longer faceless and my father's wild eyes were boring into Elsa's lithe figure, blade raised, ready to make an incision across her stomach.

I wondered if Mom tried to reason with Dad. Tried to tell him that it had been Elsa who gave me a stupid smile, Elsa who gave me butterflies, Elsa who made my stay here all worth while.

"I love her, Mom," I told her quietly. "Please…"

"I'm sorry, Sweetie," she said truthfully. "But my job and choice stands firm. There's something we don't know about in marine life and… and this will help us gain a better understanding."

"A better understanding!?" I repeated, becoming enraged once more. "All you're going to do is dissect her, split her open and poke her brain! She's a living being with feelings and all scientists care about is their horrid experimentation. You're taking away the love of my life if you do this!" I felt hot tears slither down my freckled cheeks, my fists pounding at the door. I'm pretty sure blood was trickling down my wrists by that point.

But Mom wouldn't say anything back. Surely, this was killing her inside to hear me in such a horrendous state. I was no longer the socially awkward, placid, clumsy eighteen-year-old girl. I was a warrior who needed to save the princess. I was fucking Link and Elsa was my Zelda in some tower, crying for help. Duke was Ganondorf but the bastard was so short I almost put my father's face over the antagonist of the Nintendo series.

When I got no response from my mother, I turned around and my back hit the door. I slid to the carpet beneath me and pulled my knees up to my chest, crying for Elsa. I hated myself and, frankly, I knew straight up that she was too good for me. She would have never ratted me out if she was in my position. She would have continued fighting until her final breath— god forbid— to keep me safe.

I'm such a weakling. A wimp.

Nothing.

I gazed out to the balcony door, wishing there was some way I could get out and warn her. I didn't know if she would still be there but… it was worth a shot.

Wait, what?

Balcony door?

"You have got to be joking," I moaned under my breath, quietly getting to my feet. We have a balcony and they forgot to lock it.

My smirk was huge. I had a means of escape and they couldn't stop me unless they unlocked my bedroom door. But by then, they would realize I had slipped out into the night and got Elsa away in time.

As quickly as I could— and with grace I wasn't aware I had in me— I slipped on a pair of jeans and sneakers, tugging on my grey jacket to keep me warm on the cool summer night. I slid open my balcony door and glanced over my shoulder.

"See ya," I giggled lightly so Mom wouldn't hear.

I had jumped from many heights before. Some were trees, others were ship ladders. But this time, I was going to jump onto our paved patio. I clambered onto the wooden railing and gazed out into the night. The ocean was a gentle, navy blue and the moon was hanging brightly in the sky. The sound of the waves was too tranquil for such a dire situation that I was about to get into no doubt. Eerily beautiful is what it was. I glanced down to aim my landing. Not a far jump but one misplaced step and my ankle was done for.

Elsa was worth it.

I zipped up my jacket halfway and pulled up my hood. And like some new age assassin preforming a leap of faith, I pushed myself off the balcony and soared to the ground. With a stupendous and incredibly dull thud, I landed on both my feet and rolled forward in a somersault, hitting the edge of where the patio met the sand, safe and unharmed.

Freezing in place, I strained my ears for any sign that the goons inside heard my fall. There was idle conversation coming from the house but none where about me. With a grin, I stood up straight before I kicked off running, my sneakers sinking into the sand and making me plod until I reached the wet sand along the coast line for an easier run.

I was free to run to Elsa. Free to tell her that people found out about her. Free to tell her that I was sorry. Free to tell her that she deserved better and all the happiness in the world. Free to tell her that I loved her before she left me for good.

As long as she was safe, I didn't care.

So I kept on running, not looking back. It would have been a good time to, however, because I had been unaware I was being watched, unaware that I was being followed. I should have looked back. Maybe the week wouldn't be so bad.

I should have looked back.

But I didn't.

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