Hey, you guys. Been a while, hasn't it? Wasn't supposed to be, but then January happened, and everything went all crazy. It was a very long month with ups and downs. Mostly downs.

I've become fan of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, though. It makes me so emotional that I really shouldn't tell you about it. So I won't.

There are things about the story I've been meaning to tell you all. Some of you thought chapter 28 was the last chapter, but I want to let you all know that wasn't (clearly, or you wouldn't be reading this). The story is, however, almost over. There will be at least 5 more chapters at this point. Unless, of course, they become so long that I have to split them in two like I did with this one.

To clarify, this chapter was originally much longer, but I decided to leave you guys with a cliffhanger in order to keep a good chapter length.

Also, I should mention that this chapter isn't my best writing. The entire thing is in Sakura's POV, and it's kind of rushed. Next chapter is the one I really think you'll all enjoy, but it's not ready. I really just need to write the whole thing and then tweak it, but I'm nit-picky, so it's taking forever.

Reminder: Last chapter ended with Syaoran confessing his feelings to Sakura. That basically explains everything going on in the chapter.


Sakura's POV

An infinite world of darkness. There is no up or down. Gravity is a foreign concept, not known here. This is a place of struggle and hardship. Each time I try to pull myself up, it's just to get shoved right back down again.

I've known this place. I spent years of my life in it. Struggling. Trying to find an escape route. There isn't one, though. At least not this time.

I can feel myself slowly fading away. Everything that used to hurt is turning numb.

I know what it means.

I know I should keep fighting it... But I can't. I can't fight it. My body refuses to listen to what my brain is telling it to do. And all I want to do is let go and fall.

Just let go.

Everything is going to be alright.

Just let go.

So I do. I let go, knowing full well that everything is not going to be alright.


12 hours earlier


"29… 30… 31… Alright, that's everyone for me." Terada flips down the papers on his clipboard and brings it to his side. He continues speaking directly to us. "Now, due to the slight," he pauses to glance over at his fellow colleagues with a distasteful glint in his eyes, "miscommunication between us teachers, the bunks got all mixed up, and we've decided to allow all of you pick out who you'll be bunking with, so get in groups of six. Class doesn't matter this time, so if you're best friend is in another class, you can still share the same cabin, but… But they aren't listening anymore. Mizuki-san, will you record the arrangements of the girls? I can't seem to find Subaru-san anywhere, otherwise I would just ask her, but since you're here, do you mind?"

Beside Mr. Terada, Ms. Mizuki nods and indifferently takes the clipboard from our homeroom teacher.

Only half paying attention to everything, I follow quietly behind Tomoyo as she leads us towards the rest of our group of friends. When she reaches back and takes my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze, I smile weakly and continue to make my way through the crowd of seniors.

"There are three bunks in each cabin, so we're going to have one empty bed. Sensei might have to put someone else in the room with us if they don't have any extra spots," Tomoyo explains as we go. "Hopefully they won't need to, but even if they do, it's just one night. Not too bad."

"Yeah…"

I pretend not to notice Tomoyo's saddened expression. I know she's worried about me, but I'm not ready to talk about it all yet. I'm still trying to work out what I should do about it all. About Syaoran.

"He~y!" Chiharu excitedly races up to meet us. "That bus ride was a total drag. You're so lucky you two weren't put on the same bus as us. The entire way, Hiiragizawa and Takashi just kept on going on and on about how the log cabin came to existence. I thought I was going to die." Her braids swaying every which way as she bobs up and down several times.

"But we're finally here now, and it's going to be awesome." Turning her head, she glares off into the distance. "Except for that it's barely even warm here. That part kinda drags, but we're going to keep a positive outlook on all of it. Alright?" From the way she's rambling, I get the idea she's more trying to convince herself than she is us.

"Sure thing, Chiharu." Tomoyo expertly slips by the exasperated girl and immediately makes her way to where her blue-haired boyfriend stands, watching her with soft eyes. It makes me a bit envious how open and easygoing they are about their feelings. I wish I could be more like that.

Before I can stop myself, I find my eyes wandering over to the tall spot of green that's been on my radar since the second it came into my line of sight.

He's not looking at me when my eyes fall upon him. He stands across from Yamazaki, grinning widely at something Naoko is telling them, her eyes lit up in the same way they do whenever she gets too enthusiastic about something. Rika listens from opposite of Naoko, just smiling at Naoko's antics. I watch them for a while, mainly focused on the brunette in the forest green top. I almost want him to turn around and notice me, but I also don't want him to catch me staring.

A tap on my arm makes my tunnel vision disappear. "Hm?" I turn around to find Chiharu watching me with a confused and slightly worried look on her face.

"Hey, you okay? You seem kinda… Out of it today."

"I'm fine. Just tired. Didn't get much sleep last night." It's not entirely untrue. I really didn't get a lot of sleep last night. Part of it was because I was packing. Another part of it was something else…

"You sure? Come to think of it, what ever happened to you on new year?" I cringe a little at the question. "You, Tomoyo, Hiiragizawa, and Li all vanished right before the fireworks. You guys missed the best part."

"Oh…" I anxiously glance over at Tomoyo, but she's not looking at me. "Yeah, we all just…"

"Hey, Sakura, Chiharu!"

I give silent thanks to Naoko for speaking up before I can saying else, because I wasn't even sure where I was going with it. Then I turn around and can't decide if it's really much of an improvement. Naoko is grinning evilly at me, sending shivers up and down my spine.

"What?" I ask cautiously. Her grin just seems to widen. Beside her, Yamazaki wears his signature grin, and Syaoran is just standing with his back to me, shaking his head.

"I just had a wonderful idea. Care to listen?"

I glance over at Chiharu, who shrugs.

"Sure," I say slowly and follow alongside Chiharu to where they all stand in a mini-circle.

When we're within a few feet, Syaoran glances sideways at us. I don't mean to look, but the problem is that I never wasn't looking at him. If I were to guess, I probably look the exact opposite from him. He looks completely calm and casual, as if he doesn't have a care in the world. As if he didn't just a few days ago tell me he's in love with me.

It's his relaxation that I find the strangest. It's almost as if none of it ever happened. And then he smiles, and I know that it did. His smile isn't the same as it's been the past nine-plus years I've known him. I've seen him look at me this way before, but only very rarely. My face feels a bit warmer, and I'm almost certain it isn't just because the weather here is nicer than in Tomoeda.

"Alright, you two stop with the googly eyes."

Syaoran's face abruptly darkens, and he glares at Chiharu while she innocently walks by him on her way to Yamazaki's side.

"What is it, Naoko?"

Naoko blinks as if coming to, then easily slips back into her excited state, rapidly speaking with vigor. "Right, so I was thinking that tonight we should all meet up and tell ghost stories!"

Her words are like a slap to the face. "G-Ghost stories?" I choke out.

"Yeah, doesn't it sound great?"

"Um…"

"You'll come, right?"

"Well…" What am I supposed to do? Say no? "Yeah, sure... I guess."

"Great! Since the boys and girls dorms are separate, we'll have to meet up somewhere in order to do it. Rika suggested that we do it in the common area, but I think it would be way cooler if were to do it somewhere dark."

"The sun goes down early this time of year. We could do it outside and we'd still be able to make it back in time for lights out." Now it's Chiharu stabbing me in the back. She knows how much I hate ghost stories. And the dark. Especially the two of them combined.

"Yeah! Nice thinking, Chiharu!" I want to vomit when the two hi-five, but instead I just turn my head away, only to be met with both Rika and Syaoran. Rika is giggling at the other two, while Syaoran is back to shaking his head at their antics.

"Don't you guys think it's a bit cold to be staying out late telling ghost stories?"

"Oh, that's the best part! I actually heard from one of the teachers that they have fire pits spread out across the resort. Bring a blanket and you'll be fine." And yet another stab.

"Great," I mumble. "Just great."

At that very moment, Syaoran decides to lean down and whisper something into my ear. "It won't be that bad. If it is, just signal, and I'll pull you out."

I gasp a bit, and with my face feeling like a thousand degrees, I leap away from him, drawing the other's attention. Syaoran looks surprised by my reaction at first, then something seems to click, and his eyes fall as he turns away from me.

Across from us, Chiharu narrows her eyes and scrutinizes us. "What's up with you two lately? It's like ever since New Years, you two have been acting weird. Sakura's become socially awkward around Li, and Li is acting way too nice."

"Mihara…"

"Chiharu," Rika quietly scolds. "You're being intrusive. They may not be comfortable talking about it."

Chiharu doesn't look too happy, but Rika's words shut her up.

"Whatever. The truth will come out one way or another. Until then, could you two at least try to act like ordinary human beings around each other. The abnormal behavior is starting to give me the creeps."

She finally switches topics, much to my relief. "So, meet up again around five?"

I give a weak nod in response. Could things really get any worse?

Of course, they always do. This time is no exception.


"Alright, Sakura, it's four-fifty; in other words, time to get your butt out here and come with us to tell ghost stories!" Chiharu's voice travels through the door sounding just as loud as it would without the one-inch thick wooden object in the way.

"Just a minute!"

"You said that like five minutes ago!"

I wince. "It hasn't been that long."

"Sakura!"

"Alright, fine!" Frustrated, I throw the door open and come marching out of the bathroom.

"Finally," Chiharu mumbles behind me. "Alright, you guys, we can go now."

"Took long enough."

Tomoyo walks up to me. "Don't worry, Sakura, it will be fine. None of what anyone says is true, anyways."

"I know, but that doesn't make it any less scary to think about." It might be a lie that I know. Sure, realistically, none of what anyone says is true, but… Well, it's still terrifying. Even if I find it almost impossible to ever picture myself being possessed by an evil spirit and forced to commit suicide, that doesn't mean that it doesn't scare me to think about.

"Off to join the fun," I mumble as Chiharu and Naoko all but drag me out the door.

And so, that's how I have somehow found myself sitting around a fire, alone, trying not to die from anxiety while waiting for the rest of the group to show up.

"For crying out loud, what are they doing? They're guys, it's not supposed to take them this long."

"Maybe they forgot to look at the clock."
"Maybe they ate too much at dinner, and passed out as soon as they got back to their room."

"Maybe they all got lost."

"Or maybe they were abducted by aliens," I chime in, eager to get my mind off of what will happen when they do arrive. I don't know why aliens are always my go-to.

"Oh, oh! Maybe, just maybe, they tripped and fell into a huge puddle and had to go back because they were cold, but since there's only one shower, they all had to take turns, and that's why they're so late."

"What's why who is so late?" At the sound of Syaoran's familiar voice, my stomach does a little flip.

"Li! What took you all so long?"

"Don't look at me; Takashi was the one who wouldn't stop lecturing our roommates long enough for me to get in that we had to leave. Plus, Eriol was too busy tag teaming with Takashi to notice the time."

"Gotta help a friend out."

Syaoran takes the action I'm refraining from by rolling his eyes.

"Right, and what about me?"

Eriol just smiles apologetically and makes his way over to where Tomoyo is sitting. I'm still annoyed with her. She made me sit by myself even though I'm her best friend, and she knows that I'm afraid of these stories. I really resent Eriol sometimes. If he weren't so good to Tomoyo, I would totally be putting most of my time into an effort to be rid of him.

Wait a minute... Takashi is sitting next to Chiharu. It's not unusual by any means. If fact, I'd be more surprised if he didn't. Rika and Naoko are also sitting together. Plus, of course, everyone's favorite couple is already getting cozy, which leaves me the only person sitting alone. In other words, the last seat is next to me... With one person left...

My mind registers the information too late. Before I know it, I'm sitting beside the person who I both want to hug and kiss as well as shy away from. This is going to be a long night.

"Hey, Sakura."

The warm, familiar voice invades my thoughts and forces me to lift my gaze. Syaoran smiles down at me as if I'm his favorite person in the entire world. He leaves me breathless in the best possible way.

"Hi, Syaoran."

The smile that rises to my own lips comes naturally, but I get the feeling it's more of a giddy schoolgirl smile. When he gives me a curious look, I quickly look away. Thankfully, Chiharu takes the lead, as always, and starts up the conversation.

"Alright," she begins, "who wants to start us off?"

Are there crickets out in the winter, or is that just my imagination?

Chiharu cringes. "Um, okay, fine, I'll just go first then." She clears her throat. "So, there was this guy..." She pauses, then snaps. "This atmosphere isn't working at all! It feels more like we're going to roast marshmallows than tell scary ghost stories."

"Maybe we just need a build up," Naoko offers.

"If I may," Eriol's voice draws the attention of the rest of us, "I believe I can solve our problem." A mischievous glint appears in our foreign friend's eye, and his lips turn up in a way that sends shivers down my spine.

Great. This is exactly why I have such mixed feelings about him. I don't have any idea what Tomoyo sees in him.

And thus, the storytelling commences.


"Then there was a loud creaking sound."

Oh no. Not the creaking sound.

"So the prince got up to go investigate."

No! No! No! Everybody knows you're not supposed to go to the sound! Haven't you ever seen a horror movie?

"And when he opened the bedroom door and peered out into the hall, he found... his own sister standing there, her eyes completely white as if they'd rolled back in her head, and in her hands, the blade sharp enough to chop down an entire tree with one fluid swipe, was a ginormous battle axe from deep inside the castle's armory."

No! Why did it have to be an axe?

"And all the poor, petrified boy could do was stand and watch as his sister raised the axe high above her head... and brought it down with the force of an entire army."

There's a silence that follows. My body and hands tremble as I try not to think of myself in the same situation. We've been at this whole story-telling thing for over half an hour now, but the others aren't showing any signs of letting up any time soon.

Naoko's lips turn up, and her eyes trail across all of us as if she's plotting how to murder us and hide our bodies. "Needless to say, the walls and floors were painted with blood that night."

At her words, I bite my lip and squeeze my eyes shut. I don't know how much more of this I can take.

"Sakura," Syaoran whispers.

I lift my head just enough to look up at him. He leans closer to me, and speaks quietly, his face just a few inches from my own.

"Do you want to leave?"

A wave of relief and gratitude washes over me. Hastily, I nod.

"Alright, come on." Syaoran pulls away and rises to his feet. The others all look over at us, and Syaoran motions for me to get up. Still confused, I stand. "Hate to leave early, but Sakura's tired, and I'm getting pretty cold anyway, so I'm gonna go ahead and take her back now."

"So soon?"

"Yeah, sorry."

"Oh... Well, alright. See you when we get back, Sakura. Goodnight, Li."

"Goodnight."

Syaoran rests his hand on the small of my back and guides me away from the others. Once we're out of hearing range, he remove his hand.

"Is this okay?"

I don't look up as I quietly reply. "Yes. Thank you."

"Sure. Will you be alright on your own when we get back, or do you want to go to the common area for a while?"

"I think I'll be fine if I go back."

"Alright, then."

We continue walking in silence. The entire situation feels awkward. I don't know what to do or say anymore. Syaoran said for me not to feel pressured, but surely I can't avoid the conversation forever like I tried to do about our friendship.

I thought that, put in this situation, what to do would come easily to me. If my life were a fairy tale, then I would have leapt into Syaoran's arms the second he confessed. I would have told him I love him, too, and we would've live happily ever after.

Things are never as simple as they are in stories, though. And now I'm left to figure out what to do. I want to tell him now more than ever, but I have that lingering doubt that even if I do, more conflicts will arise.

I'm afraid that if I try to advance my relationship with Syaoran, I won't be able to let him go. And that's where it all falls apart. No matter what, I can't be with him–not for as long as I want to, anyways.

"Sakura."

I draw my attention back to Syaoran's physical presence beside me. He looks at me with an earnest expression.

"I know that this must be strange for you, and you probably don't know what to say to me, but you don't have to dance around topics with me."

"You say that, but..."

"Yeah, you don't need to try to say it."

"You make it seem so easy," I say, watching my feet. "Aren't you embarrassed?"

"Embarrassed?" His shock compels me to lift my head and meet his gaze. "Well, I'm not embarrassed about my feelings for you." He says it while looking me straight in the eyes. "Don't get me wrong, this isn't easy for me, either, but the only thing that's different is that now you know I have feelings for you. They've always been there, Sakura. That hasn't changed."

I look down at my feet again, this time to hide my blush. "There are things I need to talk to you about, Syaoran. When we get back to Tomoeda... Once this trip is over, I'll tell you them." I face him again with a serious and almost desperate sense of need. "Can you wait until then?"

Syaoran's eyes soften. "I already told you I would, didn't I?"

We approach the cabin I'm sharing with the other girls and come to a stop in front of it.

"You're way too nice to me," I tell him quietly.

"That's because I want you to take me seriously."

"I am. I do... It stresses me when you're this serious, though."

"Oh?" Relief washes over me as Syaoran flashes me that knowing smirk that I love so much. "Are you sure you don't just miss being able to bicker with me?"

"Psh... Wha...?" I innocently look away. "What are you even talking about?"

"Eh? Playing dumb, are we?"

"Hey!"

Syaoran chuckles. "Yeah, yeah."

I huff, but eventually give in. "Alright, fine. Maybe just a little."

"Called it."

I shake my head. At that moment, Syaoran starts to shift. "Alright, then. Best be leaving on a lighter note, then."

"Huh? You're leaving?" I spin around when he walks past me.

"Yep."

Watching him go, I suddenly find myself stepping forward and reaching out for him. "Wait!"

Syaoran looks back this time with a startled look on his face. "Sakura..." I realize then that I've grabbed hold of his shirt.

"Oh!" I quickly rush to release the cloth and pull my hand back. "Sorry."

"It's fine." He turns fully around and studies me with worried eyes. "Are you sure you'll be alright?"

I assume he's talking about my nervousness after all the ghost stories. "Yeah, I'll be fine. Sorry. You can go."

Even when I step away from him, he still doesn't move.

"You first."

"Huh?" I look up at him, and he, in turn, nods towards the building.

"I'll leave once you're inside."

Glancing back at the door, a small, "Oh," escapes my lips. Even though I know I have to move, I don't.

Syaoran sighs. "You're too much sometimes." The soft, caring tone contradicts his words. Next, he steps by me to the door. "You've got the key, right?"

Snapping out of it, I reach into my pocket. "Yeah, hold on." After fishing around for a moment, I pull out the key. "Here." I hand it to him. Syaoran takes the key and unlocks the door, then pushes it open and steps inside.

"Looks all clear."

I follow in after him. "I never said I thought that there were ghosts lurking around in the room."

"You didn't, but I wouldn't put it past you to be thinking it." He jingles the key in front of me. Once I've lifted my palm, he drops them in it. "Do you need anything else? I could check in the closet or under the beds if it'll make you feel any better."

My face feels suddenly warmer. "No! Geez, stop teasing me."

Amusement flashes in his eyes. "Alright, fine, I'll stop."

"Good. Now, get out. This is a girl's cabin; you shouldn't even be in here."

"So cold." Ignoring the comment, I usher him out the door. "Alright, alright. Relax, I'm going."

Once he's through the door, I pull it far enough closed that my body blocks out the rest of the room. "Oh, and Syaoran!"

"Yeah?"

"It's just..." I find it harder to say with Syaoran's eyes on me, but manage to get out the words I want to say. "Thanks again for earlier."

Rather than voicing his reply, Syaoran just smiles kindly. "Good night, Sakura."

"Good night, Syaoran."


I can't fall asleep. It's as simple as that.

I'm laying in the top bunk of the bed I'm sharing with Tomoyo, unable to close my eyes for more than a few seconds. I close them, but when I try to relax, they spring right back open.

"Tomoyo?" I whisper.

"Hm?" Her groggy, half-asleep voice comes from beneath me.

"Are you still awake?"

"Barely. What's the matter? Are you still scared because of the stories from earlier?"

"What?" I squeak, a bit too loud. Across the room, Naoko rolls in her sleep and curls up like she's cold. Lowering my voice this time, I say defensively, "I'm not. I just can't seem to fall asleep."

"Right," Tomoyo sarcastically agrees. "And I'm sure that has nothing to do with ghost stories from earlier. Nothing at all."

I grumble at her attitude. She's really not entirely right. Sure, I'm a little on edge because of all the stories everyone was telling, but what's weighing heavy on my mind is an entirely different matter.

"Whatever. It's killing me just laying here, though." Grabbing the wooden rail, I lean over the side of the bunk and look down at Tomoyo. "Hey, I think I'm gonna go take a walk, alright?"

"What?" Finally, Tomoyo sits up in her bed and leans to the side of the bed I'm on. "It's past lights out, Sakura; in other words, we can't go wandering around. Besides, it's dark out."

"Oh, come on, Tomoyo. It's not like I'll be going far. And besides, it's not that late."

"Sakura..."

She doesn't have to go on. I can tell from her tone that she's against it.

"Please, Tomoyo."

She groans and rolls over. "Ugh. Fine, Sakura. It's not like I'm going to stop you."

"Yay!" I cheer as quietly as I can. "Thank you, Tomoyo. I'll try not to take too long."

Relieved, I climb down the ladder, but just as I'm about to turn, Tomoyo grabs my hand.

"What is it?"

She looks over her shoulder at me with earnestly concerned eyes.

"Tomoyo?"

"Just... Be careful, alright, Sakura?"

Her tone leaves me uneasy, but I force a smile to my face. "I'll be fine, Tomoyo. Don't worry."

And with that, I grab the flashlight from my things and slip out of the cabin. As I shut the door behind me, I heave a sigh. Tomoyo worries too much sometimes. It almost seems strange for her to be so worried about me since she's been too busy with her new boyfriend these past few weeks to pay me much mind. Hopefully when they've been dating for a little longer, Tomoyo won't be so infatuated with him.

Tomoyo's strange behavior isn't something I have time to worry about, though. With everything going on with Syaoran, I haven't even noticed a lot of the things going on around me.

Pushing away from the door, I make my way down the path leading to the beach. Once my shoes have sunken into the sand, I turn left and wander up along the coast. As I go, I find my thoughts wandering back to the inner conflict I was having earlier.

I told Syaoran that we would talk once this trip is over, but I'm not sure what to say to him, let alone how to say it. In truth, I want nothing more than to tell him that I love him, that I return his feelings, but I know there's more to consider than just how I feel now. In less than three months, Syaoran will be on his way back to Hong Kong, leaving Tomoeda possibly for good. It's hard enough for me to bear thinking about. If I allow myself to be with Syaoran the way I want to, I don't know if I'll be able to stand being apart from him and not knowing if he'll ever return to me. A long distance relationship is one thing, but not knowing if I'll ever be able to be beside the one I love is an entirely different matter.

In addition, I fear that no matter what path I choose to take, I'll just be a burden to him. I can't ask him not to leave me. At the same time, if and when he does, this is going to hurt, and trying to be together with him is just going to make it that much more painful for both of us.

Coming to a stop, I look up at the near-black ocean.

"When did life become so cruel?" I whisper to myself. Had all of this happened just a year or two ago, I wouldn't be hesitating. What's different? How can so much change in such little time? I know the answer, though. It's the cruel fate of life.

"We're growing up," I say, raising one hand and holding it before me to block out the full moon. It is no longer that of a child. With graduation a mere three months away, I can't think in the mindset of a teenage girl in high school, because that's not all I am anymore. Syaoran said something similar once about us no longer acting like children and instead settling our affairs like soon-to-be adults we are.

"So much for the life of simplicity." I laugh dryly and drop my hand again. When I finally stop to look around, I find myself no longer on the beach. Instead, I've somehow wound up on the long, rocky cliff that protrudes from the shore. It's relatively flat near the bottom where I stand and quite close to the water.

Turning on the flashlight, I shine it over the wall of earth that goes up nearly fifteen feet or so. How I'm at the end of it, staring out at the ocean, is beyond me, but I sigh and decide it's probably about time I head back, for fear Tomoyo might get even more worried than she was when I left. Turning around, I make my way back to shore, shining the beam of light in front of me.

I've only made it a little ways when the waves lapping against the rocks send water spraying onto the stone and effectively getting droplets of water splashed from my ankle to my knee. That's when I at last notice just how restless the tides are. Shining the light out across the water, I observe waves larger than the ones from earlier in the day forming and crashing against the shore.

My breath shallows, and I quickly move to step away from the edge. A little too hastily, perhaps, given that the surface I step on is still wet. So, before I can even think to be more careful, I find myself falling. The ground disappears beneath my feet, and everything becomes disorienting.

Then I scream. Or, at the very least, try to. The ocean water soon breaks my fall and welcomes my warm body into it's frigid depths. Any attempt to be heard is lost then, and I clamp my mouth shut, thrashing in a violent panic to get my head above water once more.

It all happens so fast that I scarcely have time to realize what's going on.

My head breaks the surface and I gasp for air, only to continuously dip below the surface. Sputtering and gasping, I manage one final cry for help before another wave comes and pushes me under once more.

No. This can't be real.

But it is. Every time I try to push up, it's just to get sent shoved back down again. I don't know which way is up and which way is down. Even when I think my eyes are open, all I see is darkness.

The shoes on my feet make it even harder to move. My arms, covered by an oversized jacket, don't move fluidly through the water as they should. Everything on my body seems to weigh me down and drag me farther into the depths of the unknown.

My lungs scream for air. Water pushes against my lips, eager to be let in. I know I'm drowning. Despite my best efforts to stop it, pockets of air escape from between my lips.

One horrid, wretched thought crosses my mind at that moment.

I'm going to die.

It seems the only possible outcome. I can't fight forever. Every part of my body aches. The pain is unbearable.

Yet, amongst all the pain and struggle is one small light of hope as a possible thought passes the mind fights to stay conscious. It's the thought that maybe I'll see my mother. A dangerous thought that dares me to let go, because wherever she is, it must be warm and calm and safe.

Then I think of all my friends and my recently reunited family. I can't stop fighting it. I can't.

But it's too much. The salty ocean water passes my lips.

Let go. Everything will be alright. Just let go.

So I do. I let go and fade away into a world of complete darkness.


And thus, I leave you all on a cliffhanger.

I'm pretty sure (as usual) I had more I wanted/needed to say to you guys, but (yet again) I'm coming up with nothing. So, since I have poor memory, and it's just been way too long, I'll be leaving you all now.

Oh, and happy Super Bowl Sunday to those who watched it (the game just ended a few minutes ago here from when I'm writing this).

To everyone else, I hope you all have a wonderful week. And who knows, maybe I'll be back with chapter 30 in time for Valentines Day. No promises, though.