Four days later, another ship arrived for the voyage to continue. The whole team embarked, except Catherine, who was being taken back to her country. Steve felt strange, he felt empty, he didn't know how to explain the effect of her absence on his life. "I met her just a few days ago, and it's like I've known her all my life." How could he know if he was in love, soon he that had never loved. What to do when a person goes through your life and leaves you completely in love? Well, he still didn't have those answers.

Catherine was walking along a practically deserted beach. She was wearing a white and light dress, perfect for watching the sunset. She had flowing hair and loved to feel her feet in the wet sand.

"Catherine!" She heard Steve's voice and saw him far away on the beach. The sun overshadowed her vision and she put her hand over her eyes to try to see him better.

"Steve?" She asked.

Steve opened his arms to her and she ran towards him, but as much as she ran, she never reached him.

"Catherine!"

Catherine woke up in the hospital and saw her mother sitting on the chair next to her bed, calling her and looking at her with concern.

Catherine was confused. "Mom? What are you doing here?"

"Taking care of you, dear," Carol replied.

Catherine looked around and realized that she was in a hospital setting. "Am I not on the ship?"

"No, you're in the hospital. Don't you remember what happened?"

"No," Catherine said to her mother.

"Well, the ship caught fire, and you inhaled a lot of smoke. You got really bad with the smoke in your lungs, daughter. A sailor took you off the ship, and if it weren't for him, your father and I would have lost you."

"I don't remember any of that, Mom. Did you say that a sailor took me off the ship?"

"Yes. You were saying his name before you woke up, so I believe you know him," Carol replied.

"Steve?" Catherine asked.

"Yes, it was him."

"How long have I been here, Mom? The mission will be delayed because of me."

Carol knew Catherine would be upset by the news. "You have been here for three days, Catherine. And it was another two days of travel. The mission took its course without you."

Catherine was very upset and even cried. She didn't know if she was more upset by the fact that she missed the chance to work on that mission, or that Steve was gone and she couldn't say goodbye or thank him for saving her life.

Two months later...

Steve was called to the presence of his superior for being distracted in the field putting his life and that of the other sailors at risk.

"Sit here, Steve."

Steve sat down, and looked to make sure the door was closed.

"Listen, Joe, I know why you called me here and I promise you it won't happen again."

"I called you here as a friend, Steve, and not as your commander. What's going on with you, son?" Joe asked and expected a sincere answer, but of course Steve wouldn't tell him that he was distracted by thinking of a girl.

"It was a distraction, Joe. I'm sorry."

Joe knew it wasn't easy to get things out of Steve and he just advised him, didn't punish him like some wanted him to do. "Don't let that happen again."

"Thanks, Joe." Steve got up and left the room.

"What can I do if she doesn't come out of my thoughts?" Steve thought.

Four months later ...

Steve and Freddie were packing to go home. "Dude, I'm really happy to be able to go home!" Freddie told Steve.

Steve just smiled at his friend. He was coming back to the country, but he wasn't coming home. He would spend his days off in the city, in some small hotel near the naval base. "Good for you, Freddie. Are you going to enroll in the SEAl course? I've already thought about it a lot and decided to enroll. Joe will be the instructor for the practical classes."

"Steve, this is my dad's dream, but I don't know if it's mine. I'm going to think about it this vacation."

"Ok, Freddie."

Catherine finished her workday at the base and went home very excited. She lived near the base, just a ten-minute drive away.

"Mom, I'm really happy!"

"What happened, daughter?" Her mother asked.

"I'm going to be promoted! I didn't expect this so soon. I'm going to be promoted to Lieutenant! My boss asked for my promotion, I know I'll only actually have it in a few months, but I'm still happy."

Carol hugged her. "And you must be really happy. You have dedicated yourself to your work so much. You don't even date, you only think about working."

"It's because I still haven't found the right person, Mom." Catherine said.

"Or I found him and lost him..." she thought.

Steve was also thinking about her at that very moment.

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