East Two #2
Moving in slow motion, like the time warp I had experienced underwater, I headed toward her.
I could see myself practically falling out of the bathroom, backward, scrambling to stay on my feet.
As soon as I saw it in my peripheral view, I faced the steel door.
My bare feet were already running toward it.
My finger was already extended to push the code that I had so easily remembered, even though I only heard it once.
As if outside my body, yet the one controlling it from inside, I watched my hand turn the doorknob and open the door.
I witnessed every movement from two perspectives, like my own eyes and those of my soul’s perfect companion.
My bare feet hit the pavement outside the door, then I saw my toes sinking in the muddy grass.
A strength I’d never felt before dominated me.
I was transforming. Into what? I had no clue. But my mission was clear as the sun.
The sun…
The memory of those few seconds after the bridge explosion, when I had been propelled into the air, reaching for the sun so it could catch me—save me from falling back to earth to die…
The sun…
Still running in slow motion, I acknowledged how life can’t grow without the sun. That was her pain. My rejection, to her, was interpreted as losing me—was like losing the sun—her life. I had felt this earlier, but now the realization was so clear: I would never deny her anything, ever again.
Seeing the edge of the seawall, I didn’t slow my steps.
Urgency pushed me forward. My heart denied gravity, and I leaped into the dark sky, pushing off the wall.
My arms and legs kept moving, just like the day I should’ve died on my tenth Life Date.
I was reliving it, falling, this time willingly, and all while roaring, “Saleeniiiii!”
Splash!
Even though I was submerged deep in the Atlantic Ocean, potentially drowning, I was reconnecting to the meaning of life. The reason I was on this earth. One of the biggest reasons why I had survived all of the heart-shattering losses.
Submerged, the water was cold. I was sure of that, but my body didn’t feel the temperature.
I was too captivated by the sight in front of me.
Below the surface was dark, yet I could easily see.
Between the glittery, dancing water and her green, sparkly eyes that had a slight glow, the space between and around us was illuminated.
Even her hair, as multicolored as a labradorite stone, glistening and swaying, moved behind and around her like seagrass bending to the natural movement of the ocean’s current.
If it is possible to sigh underwater, that is what I did. I felt the shift inside my body. A realization clicked into place. Saleeni was no family member. She was… is… my destiny.
Without the normal human movements of swimming, fluttering like a seahorse’s delicate fin, she drifted closer in a propulsion that glided her toward me. Her expression was bewildered. Eyes wide. Mouth slightly ajar.
Even though this was technically only the fourth time I had ever seen Saleeni and all her magnificence in a span of eight years, I wasn’t stunned or frozen in place.
Instead, her presence made it easy to let the rest of the world and all its beliefs fade away.
It was only her and me for these treasurable moments.
As an apology for allowing learned fear to interfere with us, I held out my hand.
Her head tilted.
So I offered my other hand, too. Damaged, but all I had to give.
Saleeni, almost reaching me, a precious smile appeared, then she mouthed, “Boy.”
Feeling her magic wrap around my heart to never let it go again, I smiled and mouthed underwater, “My friend.”
My little friend, now grown, was no longer little or dainty. She was pure power. Strength and grace. A beauty that nearly stole what little air remained in my lungs.
Her fingers resting on my exposed palms were beyond anything I’d hoped her touch would be.
Her softness was soul-deep. Her touch was blessed and godly.
My eyes wanted to close to organically feel it all, but my mind insisted on not missing one second of this reunion.
It had been too many years coming. Now was the time for the simplest things to amaze me.
We would have a lifetime to figure out the rest.
Hand in hand, I felt movement by my feet. It was her delicately swooshing tail. It effortlessly guided us upward toward the surface. In complete astonishment, my hand, still wrapped from blood bonding with the Misfits, touched her mesmerizing exquisiteness as she lifted it to her face.
She smiled against my palm, and I felt her transparent fin tenderly curl around my feet. It was innocent affection that sent blissful chills throughout my whole body. I instantly knew what Heaven was like.
As we neared to the surface, moonlight danced across her marvelous, mystical face. Her delicate, pale skin shimmered, almost like one of the dancing stars surrounding us. She was light and grace and love, threatening to overfill my heart.
On Noma’s dying bed, as she received the gift of death, she told me, “She’s real, Baby Boy.”
At the time, grieving had me not believing. I was a true believer now.
Breaking the surface, I was thankful the rain and thunder had stopped. I wanted to hear every sound Saleeni might make. No words were uttered. We just stared at one another for a long while.
Finally, unable to contain my smile, I quietly said, “Hi.”