Sydney

He's standing right on the shoreline of the Galveston beach. Right where water is rippling out on the sand.

I swallow. And I step from the tall unmowed grass to the soft clingy sand. I walk up next to him, looking over the sea into the dusky horizon. This feels, on all levels, so ill-mannerly and charmingly wrong that there's something almost right about it. For years I had debated wrong and right between guys but suddenly here was someone who seems to be both… Or maybe none at all. Maybe it has something to do with the way his hair is in his eyes or the way he abruptly dropped my hand. But whatever it is, it's definitely worth the mystery.

I feel this odd and tantalizing wave of something… unexpected.

The salty seawater swarms up greet me, washing the beer someone spilled on the floor that I stepped in off of my ankle. I had taken off and left my shoes in a safe spot by the grass, easily accessible if need be.

He stood there, his hands in his pockets.

He's different. It was easy to tell, and the way he had just stared at me… No ones ever just stared before.

"I know this might sound crazy. But… I know you from somewhere… I think… You might know some information, that's somehow vital to me that I don't even know about myself."

His gaze and face soften I notice as I tore my gaze from the ocean to look at him.

I waited for him to say something only to be whipped with silence.

I turn to face him.

C'mon, Syd, confidence. This is your life and past at stake. Just say what you need to say.

"Do you know me?"

He took his time and he looks at me, an amused grin on his face.

"Sydney Falcon…" His voice is gentle and rhythmic, but yet it's like honey since he basically said it all in a laugh.

"Of course you would figure it out."

My eyes get hot. It is him! And then I rub my eyes and straighten my face out. I haven't realized that ever since he said my name, I've been smiling.

"What happened to me?" I find it in me to ask. Then I meet his eyes, and I add on, "You're blind."

He freezes up and shakes his head. He took a step back.

"When I first met you, you said it was cool, that you didn't see me any different."

"Well it seems that the past me and I have very similar taste."

It feels like every single vein in my body is some sort of sizzling ember. Like every limb is on fire. This is insane. What do I do now? What do I say now?

He smiles at me, and then I don't feel so clueless. And now I just really, really wish I could remember everything.

"Are you okay?" He asks me. Genuine concern written on his face. He reaches out to touch my arm, but then he awkwardly retracts. And instead just comes closer, which is good enough.

"It's just overwhelming. Just a few hours ago, I discovered for months I had been running on lies and now the only person who could tell me what actually happened is actually, finally here."

Then he holds out his hand. "I'm Iggy. Iggy Ride."

His hand stays out for me to take. Here it is the gateway to everything. To my framing and a love lost at sea.

He laugh softly, soft strawberry blond hair sweeping in his eyes.

"Don't worry. It's not a trap, I promise."