Sam Smiles slowly inhaled as she recollected her thoughts.
Her step father was no longer on the fishing boat. She investigated the bottom of the vessel as she panickedly breathed, her anxiety ascending. Like water being poured into a measuring jug. One pint of water. One and a half pints. 2 pints of anxiety. The numbers slowly but surely climbed as she peeked into her step father's room; he was nowhere to be seen.
How was that even possible? Just how? How? How? How? No, he wouldn't ditch her in the middle of this lake to fend for herself. Just no.
There wasn't an alarming yell or a warning tossed to Sam. He was just… Gone. Evaporated into smoke to be one with the whispering wind, vanished out of thin air. Her heart hammered insanely at the fact of this unsolvable mystery; there's no trail nor jigsaw pieces to connect this picture altogether.
For now, she was on her own. In the middle of the lake. Close to land and yet so far.
Sam was only there to observe her stepdad's fishing skills; she took an interest when watching a few series about catching these massive tuna and the competitive shows where who can rack up the most money from obtaining such huge fish.
So she studied alongside her father (She had no problems with calling her stepdad her father. She wasn't a fan of using the term "Second Dad" too. It sounded like a competition). She focused on what her father would do.
What can she do? She was in the middle of this wide fishing lake with nothing but food only for the afternoon- Wait- Her phone! She pulled out her phone, it was pink on the back coated with music stickers and some cutely written animals as well. No bars at all. It was worth a try.
She scanned around. Only a few seagulls circled around the boat like vultures around prey; the transparent fog slightly blocked the view of the shore, she can partly see a toddler stranded on the dull sandy beach.
It was walking to the water.
"Don't! Stay where you are!" Sam worriedly screamed out to shore but the little one in dark blue overalls wasn't bothered. It slowly, step by step, approached the angry waves, striking sand with its watery whip.
Shit! She cursed in her thoughts. The only way to save that child… Is to get the boat over to shore.
She went up some stairs to reach the controls. It should be like driving a car, she thought positively. She turned the keys clockwise and the engine roared to life, there was a lever on the side, she pulled it and it began to go forward. "Ok, I can work with this." She said, nodding her head slightly.
The toddler was getting close to the water, the water wrapping around the toddler's right shoe with a wet embrace.
Sam suddenly was on her way to the sand.
The little one now has its left shoe coated with lake water.
BANG! "What the-" The engine strangely stopped, stopping all movement of the boat, "No, no, no, come on! Please!"
She looked back.
It was slowly being consumed by the water. It was up to its knees.
She had wide eyes as she thought of a certain idea.
She dashed to the life buoy resting causally on the bow of the ship; she grabbed it, nearly it slipped out of her right hand.
She was so close. Just a little more time! Just a little more time!
The toddler was waist deep in water, still staring at the boat that is so close to it.
Sam tossed the buoy away from the lifeless boat.
Fingertip deep.
Sam jumped in and started to kick her legs relentlessly in order to get to it in time. Still far.
Wrist deep, having an odd smile on its face.
She constantly kicked and kicked. Getting close.
Elbow deep.
Come on! Screamed her thoughts, she was getting closer.
The toddler was now shoulder deep in lake water.
To neck deep.
To dangerously chin deep.
Sam swept up the toddler in time.
After arriving at the dimly yellow shore, Sam's legs were jelly; she collapsed on the ground. Sam Smiles then looked up for a brief moment to discover occasional birds flying from above. In a quick second, everything has changed. One minute, a loving family member was about to reel in a big one and then, the parent you love, you picture them as your guardian angel or your protector and mentor in the world before this brand new world has mysteriously up and gone.
She looked over at the toddler chewing harmlessly at her thumb; now she was up close, she can see the little one's features.
The toddler was a female; she had bold brown eyes with slightly chubby cheeks, she wore some kind of overalls, the colour a mix of black and blue, over a small white shirt that looked a little baggy. Sam let the youngster chew for a while so she can let her legs take a moment's break.
"So your parents aren't here too, huh?" Sam said calmly; the waves clashed with the inanimate specks of sand, it didn't reach both Sam and the child, "Since I don't know your name- Wait, what's your name?"
The jolly youngster made words up that Sam couldn't understand.
"What if I picked one for you for now? What about Sarah?"
The youngster wasn't happy.
"Hannah?"
The youngster shrugged.
"Vicki?"
Same reaction.
"Elizabeth?"
Again, she got the same reaction…
"What about… Molly?" The youngster giggled, "That's decided. Molly it is."
Even with one problem solved, there was another. The boat is unable to go anywhere; the engine exploded and the entirety of the boat halted.
She needed to get the boat over to the shore. Sam slightly remembered about repairing tools on the fishing boat; she was certain that her father had some before they both set off. "Stay where you are." Sam said.
When she went to the water, Molly followed instantly. Sam Smiles turned and saw Molly disobeying. She placed Molly back to where she was and started to walk backwards, keeping a close eye on her. Sam's eyebrows sat down serious to show Molly not to disobey once again. Molly did what she was told.
Sam discovered the fishing boat was slowly approaching her instead.
Maybe good luck is on her side.
Sam side-steped a little to watch the waves carry the boat over to land.
Surprisingly, she thought it'll be like the movies where good luck suddenly turns into bad luck. Guess she was rewarded... From somewhere. "Ok Molly, you can follow me now." Sam gestured to little Molly with a wave, "Let's see what we can find." Molly was looking around clueless and absent-minded.
Sam sighed a little, smiled slightly and picked Molly up, So this is what having a sister feels like. Honestly, it isn't bad. "You ready, little one?"
Molly giggled and Sam slightly grinned but the road to freedom is further than they realized.
And with that, they both retreated to the still fishing boat as the navy blue waves clashed again with the sunny-coloured sand.