by Marien Dore
“Wonderful, isn’t it?”
I nodded and turned back to the window. Only to finally see the green disappear and the dark blue of the ocean set in. It was a beautiful yet daunting sight. Being over water was more unnerving than land. I knew though the flight wouldn’t last much longer. Being over the water meant we were close to the Bahamas. I figured the last part of my flight would be well spent getting some reading in.
However, enjoying my book was short lived. Not fifteen minutes later, the plane started to rock a little. It was quickly followed by the flight attendant’s voice coming over the speaker. “Only slight turbulence, ladies and gentlemen. It should be over in a minute. Please remain in your seats,” she said in a calm voice.
It was a long minute. By the end of that minute, the turbulence didn’t subside. The plane continued to rock and tip to the right then to the left. Then, it got worse.
The plane suddenly tilted sharply to the right, making everyone exclaim in surprise. Including me. I grunted hard when my head was whipped to the right and hit the window. My cheek hit the cool glass hard, causing pain to move through my head. The pain lasted for a millisecond with my fear taking over. It got rougher.
The plane tilted more to the right and demanded a sick feeling to raise in me. Even more, it caused Emma to unintentionally lean into me. Everyone was leaning to the right too. Then the plane went to the left sharply… only to tilt to the right again. This time, nearly completely sideways. The shouts echoed through the plane and cut off the announcement made by the flight attendant.
What was happening?! I felt myself gasp, unsure of everything! What was happening, why was it happening?! We were not crashing, we are not crashing, we are not crashing. I kept telling myself it was only turbulence though clearly it wasn’t. It was all chaos, so much so, I can’t remember much of what I was thinking at that point. My mind went blurry with the shaking.
The woman over the speaker tried again, but soon, it didn’t matter. She ended up abandoning it and stumbling to the floor roughly. I could see her sliding and being forced against the seats before my eyes were pulled elsewhere. Like the passengers on the left that literally would have been thrown from their seats if their belts didn’t secure them.
It was hard to see anything clearly. The plane was shaking so violently, I couldn’t see much. I couldn’t think either! Couldn’t comprehend what the hell was happening. All that registered were the screams that rose to a louder level. And why?
“Oh god, oh shit!” was the only thing audible that left my mouth. Everything shifted… and we started to descend. Not tilt left or right, but nose dive down.
With how awful my life seemed, I still knew I wanted to continue living it. But a hard and fast reality was living its course — and it was out of control! With the fast rate and how my heart reacted in an unhealthy manner, I just wanted to close my eyes. It was completely impossible, though. I was so scared! I could see loose carry-on bags flying back. Then again, everything besides the passengers was flying around.
My eyes somehow found their way to the window, and I felt my eyes widen at seeing the water. More than that, even with how unstable my vision was, I could see the texture and ripples – something you can only see if you get closer to the damn water! This wasn’t fucking happening! Closer, closer, clos—
A loud crash penetrated my ears. That same second, for only a second, I could see perfectly. The plane plummeted into the water, and I saw that water rushing towards me. It hit us faster than I could describe. It forced my eyes shut in pure agony. It inflicted the most intense pain I have ever experienced.
It was as if my entire body hit concrete! Oh god! It felt like the water was solid and just ripped through me. I felt sick, broken, and my shattering scream — like everyone else’s — did not help. The water that hit us as the plane descended took more air from my screaming classmates (the few that were still screaming after we hit the water and went under) and me.
It only took a second for me to shut my mouth and keep in as much air as I could, despite how deeply I wanted to scream my lungs out. I couldn’t say the same occurred for some others that were still screaming. The pain was so engulfing and thriving, it demanded a few muffled screams and cries to reach my ears through the water.
That didn’t include Emma; her shrieking stopped when we hit the water. After a long minute, the few screams I heard under the water were gone too. The water took it all and left no more room to scream. No more air for them. That’s all I could tell myself. To keep holding my breath and not scream. Otherwise, I would go quietly with nothing left in me. It was hard to do, especially when the plane vibrated hard and I could feel it slow. Like we were skidding on sharp rocks before abruptly stopping.
I couldn’t keep my eyes shut. The pain was just so overwhelming, opening my eyes didn’t matter. My body felt almost gone, and I couldn’t feel it. Eyes wandering mindlessly, my dead gaze found Emma and it wasn’t a pretty sight. Her head was tilted to the side unnaturally, and there was no life or movement in her. Her hair floated around her face now that we were completely stopped.
I blinked as I took her in. I didn’t want to end up like her, even if I didn’t understand how she died and I didn’t. It moved my heart to a bad place, and it made me feel even sicker. But I couldn’t think about that now, I was still here or so I felt as if I was. That’s all I should need to be willing to try.
The first step of possibly living meant taking off my belt. I looked down to myself, and suddenly, I could feel my body again. It hurt so terribly! I could only afford to wince as I tried to see my belt. The issue was I could hardly see at this point with the salt water and the pain. Not to mention… I started to panic.
My hands flew all over the damn belt that kept me in place, looking to unlatch it. I pulled at it and tried clicking it open. For whatever reason, it didn’t work! I even bucked against it as I tried, anything to take it off! The latch wasn’t working! Simply attempting to get a grip to unlatch the belt didn’t work for me either. It was just stuck. With time, my panic grew as did my terrible need for air.
I was fighting an impossible battle right now. Most of it rested in my own physical state. It was something I didn’t have much control of right now. I felt this could be it…
The life I knew would end. The one with my father and being trapped. It was a welcoming thought, to be honest, to die and end up with my mother in heaven. I wanted to go to her and leave my dad behind and my brother; they could rot in hell. At the same time, it was such a shame… I wanted to live, and I still had hope for my life. I, as well as all these others, could have had such great futures.
Through the water, something moved and caught my attention. I cleared my head and blurred vision as best as I could, and when I did, I saw a man. Mr. Rush.
As he moved closer, I could see him more clearly. He looked around to all the students frantically as he swam over everyone’s seats. He was free and alive! I was happy he might have a chance.
However, I noticed his frantic looking stopped when he hovered over my row. I looked up to see him just over my head. His eyes were panicked, but he didn’t pause. He grabbed down and onto my belt, pulling himself until he was in front of me, bubbles floating from his abrupt movement over to me. With everything, I guess I could still be surprised.
The first thing he did was wrestle with the seatbelt like I did, trying to unlatch it and get me free. After trying enough times, I concluded that wasn’t going to work. Then, he shocked me a moment later after reaching down into his pocket. He had a knife.
Mr. Rush pulled the sharp weapon out. With his other hand, he slid his finger under my belt and away from me. The hand with the knife made a back and forth motion over the belt. He was saving me, trying to cut me out!
All this happened in a matter of seconds, from the crash to now. Time was ticking fast, though. I had no air, and I knew he didn’t either. He kept looking up at me as I started to fade away; I could feel it. The need for air was building in me
as was the pressure on my chest. I couldn’t make it. There was no way.
I rested my hand on his hand that was working to cut the belt. Meeting his eyes, I did my best to smile through the overwhelming panic of having no air. He was stunned for a second, which made it easier to push his arms away. I was showing him he needed to go, and it was too late for me.
Instantly, he shook his head, understanding my gesture. However, he didn’t seem to fight it either. Suddenly, he grabbed the back of Emma’s seat and pushed his way out, swimming out of view.
I was happy, just glad he had a chance now that he left me. It was at that point that I finally felt myself slipping. Then I heard a noise and almost out of nowhere, Mr. Rush was back in front of me again. I had no idea what he was doing as he came down to me, pulling himself closer so he was even with me. He slid his hands up to my face and brought his lips to mine.
At first, I thought he was trying to answer some dying wish of mine I never knew I made. Maybe he just wanted to kiss me goodbye from this world. I realized that was not his goal.
He opened my lips with his and breathed air into my lungs, giving me more time. He let go and looked at my face, checking if his idea worked. The bastard just couldn’t go and leave me. I would forever thank him for trying but knew it had to be too late, right?
Yet, I think he saw my eyes flutter more than before, and that’s the only good sign he needed. He moved back to cutting the strap until it finally broke and floated. I was still fading and even more, he was fading fast too. His breath didn’t give me much, but it was enough to stay alive.
He wrapped his arm around me, pulling me up with him until he dragged me over the bodies under us. I tried to pull my own weight, but the black spots were blocking out reality. He guided and dragged me… then all I could feel was that my lips were given access to more air someway. I breathed in what I could, and he was back to towing me.
For however I got the air that time, it wasn’t enough for long. It was like a dizzy dream and all I remember is just pushing. Swimming and pushing with him guiding me. The air I got wasn’t enough; my eyes shut as he still pulled me through the water. I could feel the sensation of climbing, being lifted through the water after that. Then, just as that feeling of rising entered me, I felt a very deep and painful sensation cross me. Along with a lack of air, it was that sensation that made me finally black out.
Chapter 4
I felt a rough texture against my back through my wet and sandy clothes. The sound of calming waves crashing together met my ears, and a slight breeze caressed my face. The most noticeable sensation I received was from the burning in my throat.
I couldn’t open my eyes, even as I heard a shuffling sound around me. I did try to move a little from my uncomfortable position since I was leaning up against something rough. Even still, just at that little movement, it left me gasping and moaning in pain. It also brought on another feeling. Two hands steadied me against where I was leaning.
“Janice? Janice, open your eyes,” a familiar voice whispered in front of me.
I knew if I did, the sun would shock my eyes. It already was shining bright red through my eyelids. For some reason that voice triggered something inside of me. I opened my burning eyes slightly, taking in a mass of a man in front of me. It made me wince as the sun hit my eyes, making me close them again.
“Open your eyes,” the voice repeated.
I coughed as I tried to speak, finally managing even though it hurt. “The sun.”
He must have realized what I meant because the glowing red soon faded from behind my eyelids. Blackness took its place, promising the sun was blocked. I opened my eyes again and this time, the man was blocking the sun from my view. It gave me the opportunity to take in the sight before me.
The tree I was being propped against, I saw, was on the edge of a shore of the endless ocean. The water was a pretty light blue, unlike what you see anywhere else. I was surrounded by the start of tall grass and sand, which was sticking all over my wet clothes. Down the beach to my right, big jagged rocks stood in the water, climbing until they reached the shore and kept climbing to make a cliff above the water and sand. I looked back before me. Mr. Rush looked anxious as he stared at me.
I stared back at him. And my god, it was like I was taking in a completely different person. He wasn’t perfect, he was a mess. The plaid shirt he had before wasn’t on him. Left was the soaked and clingy white undershirt. It made his chest more visible, and I noticed it had rips in it. It gave me the chance to see his chest hair, which was a strange sight. He was covered in sand too, blending into his tan wet shorts. His tennis shoes were still intact on his feet as I continued looking him over. What drew my attention the most was his hair.
It was not pulled back perfectly for the first time. Now that it was damp and free, it actually curled around his face. I never knew he had bangs until that moment where they hung in his eyes. And his eyes… wow. Even though he showed me he was opening up more, it wasn’t like this before. Everything came pouring out as he searched my face. His brown eyes radiated loads of worry, nervousness, pain while also relief.
Mr. Rush bent forward and sat facing me next to my outstretched legs. I tried sitting up more, but all it did was cause me to cry out again. His eyes swept over my body and landed on my stiff back. He inched closer and took my hand in his, steadying me. “Are you okay?”
He sounded so worried, and his eyes confirmed it. Regardless, his question made me laugh; it helped block out what happened too. “That is all you have been asking me lately. Yes, I am okay.”
He eyed my stiff form again. “You don’t seem okay.”
I looked around again and this time… it was sinking in. The realization was coming with the full force of what happened. “W-what happened exactly?”
He looked down to the sand, avoiding my gaze as his eyebrows creased in sadness. I immediately regretted my question as I already knew. “The plane crashed…” he nodded, jaw tightening.
I needed more information, no matter how much his broken tone already revealed. “Nobody… nobody made—”
He cut me off, not willing to hear it said. “No, they didn’t. It’s just us.”
Everybody. Every person on that plane. Every junior that went, the staff and teachers, everyone. Dead. The kids I grew up with, all of those people I knew. Those people whose families loved them.
“Why did you do it?” I asked in a small and painful voice. His eyes rose, and they met mine. He knew what I was asking. I wanted to know why he saved me.
“I don’t know,” he said in a whisper. I didn’t believe him.
“You came to save me. I told you to leave me too. Otherwise, it would be the end for you. Then you left as I wanted,” I said, unintentionally replaying what happened again. “Then I remember I was happy for that minute. You were maybe going to make it out. But you came back. What changed your mind?” It seemed like the longest speech of my life.
He looked confused. “I didn’t change my mind. When you wanted me to leave you, I saw you fading and blacking out. I knew my time to save you was almost up. I left because there was this air pocket at the front of the plane. I breathed in more air and came back, giving you air. I was saving you or dying if I couldn’t get you out. I wasn’t leaving without you.” His voice filled with so much heart, it shocked my mind. He would die trying to save me? That made no sense! Neither did him coming back and giving me air; I didn’t realize that was even possible. It made me recall that last bit of air I also managed to breathe in. He must have pulled me up to that air pocket quickly too in those last moments.
It was the nicest thing anyone could ever do for me. I was just some annoying kid to him, but I would always be grateful he cared for me in some way.
I was pissed off too. Why me? Why couldn’t he let me die and go to heaven? Why couldn’t he let me be with my mother? He should have saved someone who actually had a good life going for them.
“Why? Because I was the only one left alive?”
I recall me being the only one still conscious (though that’s based on my poor eyes and what I could hear). Everyone else probably died from the impact or drowned from screaming. He nodded after a minute, looking back down.
“Y-You shouldn’t have done that,” I said. When he didn’t respond to me, I continued after a minute. I could not think about what just happened; I wanted to focus on the present. “Well, what now? We’re stuck. What are we going to do?”
The man leaned up more, running a hand roughly through his hair. “We try to live.”
The words were ones I didn’t want to hear, even though that was the plan the second the plane went down. We try to live, but how? We were stranded on an island! It just made me wonder where we’re at exactly. This place was probably just a small dot on the map. Yet looking around, it didn’t seem that small. Was it even an island?
He helped me to my feet, which was a painful process. I still felt broken and, with him getting to his feet too, I could see he wasn’t in the best shape either. He didn’t seem bad this whole time, but he went through the same thing I did. Having to now balance myself, I could feel a big source of all that pain. It made me freeze.
I kept myself from gasping so he wouldn’t notice my injury. Instead, I gazed down at myself and saw I looked just as he did. Wet, sandy, with cuts in my peach shirt. After inspecting myself, with our backs to the water now that we were standing, I took in the palm tree I was leaning against before. Behind that one tree, there was a forest, brightly lit by the sun. A distance in, it seemed as if the forest climbed to higher land.
I looked over to Mr. Rush, neither of us knowing where to start. He scanned what was in sight too, his eyes stopping on where the sand blended with the grass. He started to walk towards the forest.
I could see how tense he was. The guy hurt just moving too. It just felt somewhat surreal to witness. I mean I never thought I would see the sight of perfect Mr. Rush not perfect. Not even able to walk without a grimace.