Chapter Twenty-Four
The next morning, Shane leaves for the store, and I wait for my rideshare to arrive. I’m out in front of the house, dressed in white shorts, a lime-green tank top, and sneakers. The only thing I’m taking with me is my phone so I can get some nice pictures.
I only have to wait for about five minutes or so, and then my ride pulls up.
I hop in and say, “Hi.”
“Hello, miss,” the driver, an older man, says. “How are you today?”
“I’m good,” I reply. “Thank you.”
The driver is friendly, and we make some small talk along the way. He asks how I like the island, and I tell him that I love it.
I really do.
It’s going to be sad to leave.
At least Shane and I have a couple more weeks left.
When we reach the lighthouse, I get out. I make sure to leave the driver a generous tip on the app.
“Thank you,” he says.
He then adds that if he sees my return request, he’ll try to be the one to pick me up.
“That’d be great,” I say as I close the car door.
He drives off, and I walk over to the lighthouse entrance. Once again, there are no cars around, so I assume I’ll be the only visitor, just like when Shane and I were here.
That’s good. I can take my time and get all the shots I want.
It’s such a bright, sunny morning that I start by taking some pics at the base of the lighthouse looking up. The azure blue sky is a perfect contrast to the bright white tower. I also snap a few photos of the ocean waves hitting the black rocks.
Finally, I go inside the structure.
I’m super careful as I make my way up the spiral staircase. The metal steps are still in disarray, maybe even more so than when Shane and I were here.
“They really need to fix these,” I mutter to myself as I head up.
When I reach the viewing deck, I’m relieved. I make a mental note that I’ll have to be extra careful going back down, as I’ll have gravity working against me. And, sadly, this time I don’t have Shane to carry me.
That reminds me of our first kiss, and I smile.
This is where it all really started.
I could reminisce all day, but I need to get back to why I’m here. So quickly, I turn my attention to getting in some nice shots from up here on the deck.
Just as I thought, the morning angle of the sun makes the ocean shimmer. It’s so pretty that I make my way around to the front and take pics from various angles.
I’m also really enjoying how peaceful and quiet it is up here.
It gives me time to think.
As I lean on the sill of the open-air window, I sigh. One thing I’ve just decided I’m going to do is finally take a chance and tell Shane that I love him.
I’m tired of being scared to say it out loud.
What’s the worst that could happen?
That he tells me he doesn’t love me in the same kind of way?
It’s possible, yes, but I don’t really believe he’ll say that. I mean, we are a couple, after all.
Not to mention, I feel so much love coming from him every time we’re together.
“So, yes, it’s time to be brave and share how I feel,” I state aloud, partially to put it out there in the universe and make sure I don’t chicken out.
There’s also the fact that I’d like to be the one to say it first.
Smiling, I decide to head back down.
I’ll get in a few more shots outside, and then I’ll put in on the app for a ride back. I don’t want to do that too soon, though, and keep the driver waiting.
I hope I get the same older guy; he was so sweet.
I start down the stairs, and, man, it is dark. Darker than I remember going up. I guess the angle of the sun isn’t providing the light that it did when I came up.
Now I really wish Shane were here to carry me down, like he did the last time.
I switch my phone to my other hand so I can hold the railing.
But just as I place my hand on the rickety metal, that section breaks.
“Oh shit.”
I lose my balance as I try to take a step down and get caught up in some of the mired wrought iron.
My phone flies out of my hand.
I tumble down the rest of the stairs, hitting my head on one of the last steps.
Everything goes black.