Forever and a Day

by Alexis Konsantino

Xander could only nod as the feeling of her holding him was absolutely incredible. The words: Forever and day kept repeating in his mind. Never in his life had he felt the way he did with her arms wrapped around him. He knew this was it: his fear coming to fruition… he was going to be lost to her forever. He quickly let her go and cleared his sore throat, “Too intense… I am exhausted. How are you doing?”

  “Still coughing, but ready to pass out. Do you think it’s safe enough for both of us to sleep now?” She asked.

  He nodded and gingerly tried to stretch his aching muscles, “I think so.” He grabbed a blanket and handed it to her. She wrapped herself up, laid down in the middle and looked expectantly at him.

  He looked around and found the other blanket, wrapped it around himself and began to move off to the side. Her voice stopped him cold in his tracks, “Hey Superman, it is a bit chilly… would you mind if I borrowed some of your body heat?” She patted the webbing next to her.

  “Uh…” He began to stammer and watched her smile up at him.

  “Xander, if you don’t want to its fine.” She inadvertently gave a little pout then coughed. Clearing her throat she continued, “Let me ask this, if your wife were here would you fault her for wanting to keep warm?” She gave him a little shrug.

  Jesus H Christ, he thought. Her logic was right on the money, but she had no idea of his feelings for her. He stammered again, when nothing came out right he simply shrugged and laid down on his back next to her, “I uh, I—I…”

  “Shh…” Halo shushed him, “its fine Mr. Mystery man. I won’t bite.” For now, she thought and cuddled up next to him.

  She watched his chest rise and fall with every breath as he looked up at the ceiling of the raft in deep thought. He seemed afraid to look at her. It took him about ten minutes before his eyes closed and his rhythmic deep breathing signaling a deep sleep like earlier. With a smile, she turned her back to him and pushed herself as close as humanly possible to him. Just as she was drifting off, she felt his arm come over her and scoop her in close to him.

  She held her breath and waited, all she heard was his deep breathing. “Oh my!” she mouthed quietly, he is sound asleep and here they are spooning together. She realized with a grin that her body molded perfectly into his. His strong arm under her breasts sent butterflies through her sore belly. This feels so damn good! She tried to remember if she ever felt quite this way and was at a loss to call up a past memory of anything like it. If he were not married, things would soon be very different. With a smile on her face and the feelings of a long lost lovers embrace around her, she fell fast asleep in her hero’s arms.

  ELT

  “Mi cabeza…” Sarah moaned as she held her head in her hands.

  Joel came awake in an instant and glared at her, “Fucking English!”

  “Sorry. My head hurts bad, Joel.”

  Joel turned to see JJ sprawled out and unconscious across the raft from him. From his vantage, he could see the huge purple bruise on her temple. He cursed at himself for falling asleep and not dumping JJ overboard during the choppy seas.

  “Joel? I don’t see anyone out there.”

  “Who the fuck knows where they are, they should have headed east like I did. I fucking paddled all Goddamn night to save your ass. The ocean was rougher than shit too.”

  Sarah turned to JJ and gasped with her hand going to her mouth, “Joel! JJ looks really bad.”

  “Well fucking go check on her then…”

  Sarah crawled her way over to JJ and tried to rouse her. With consternation she looked to Joel, “She’s not waking up. Her head is swollen up bad she’s so pale… what should I do?”

  “How the fuck should I know?” Joel shouted.

  Sarah shrank back and looked away then noticed the pockets in the raft. With a sidelong glance at her boss, she scooted over and opened it. There she found a packet holding a silver emergency blanket. She held it up to Joel, “Can I cover her up?”

  “Why the fuck are you asking me? You take care of the bitch, my arms feel like they are on fire.”

  Sarah nodded and proceeded to cover JJ up. She searched around and not finding any cloth she took off her blouse, dipped it in the ocean and after wringing it out, she placed it on JJ’s forehead. Not knowing what else to do she scurried back to her place away from Joel.

  Sitting down she noticed the yellow ELT behind Joel’s back. She thought she heard it emitting a beep and cocked her head to hear it better.

  Joel saw where Sarah was looking, “Come here.” Joel demanded.

  Tentatively she began crawling over and as she neared, he reached out, grabbed her arm hard, and jerked her next to him.

  “Ow!” Sarah cried out as he kept his grip on her.

  Sarah winced and cried out as Joel grabbed a handful of her hair, “W—what did I do?” She stammered.

  “Shut the fuck up and listen you fucking whore… There is going to be an investigation with the NTSB and the FBI…”

  “What’s the NTSB?”

  “It’s the fucking government that investigates planes and shit, so shut the fuck up… I am going to tell you everything that you remember and what to say.” Joel growled and wrenched harder on her hair.

  About the time Joel finished his side of the story to Sarah the sound of a helicopter caught their attention. They both looked out and saw the dark gray shape of a military helicopter bearing down on them in the early morning light.

  “Fuck…” Joel grumbled and stared at Sarah. “Fine, JJ lives but you better stick to the story or I will have Simo kill every single member of your family—and I can do that from inside a jail cell…”

  “Y—yes Joel…” Sarah stuttered and swallowed hard as she recalled the visage of Mr. Simo.

  Joel peered out from under the cover and he saw a gray helicopter with Navy markings on it begin to hover above them. He frantically waved to them and he could see the sailor at the door wave back. The sailor made a motion like a boat with his hand and pointed to the East. Then held up one finger and pointed to his watch. Joel nodded emphatically and waved back.

  Joel looked to Sarah, “Is the bitch still breathing?”

  “Yes, she is still breathing. She doesn't seem too good.” She replied afraid he would get angry.

  Joel watched as the helicopter began make a wider and wider circle around them, he didn't think they were going to go away. He knew he should have dumped JJ overboard, but he was too fucking tired and fell asleep.

  Half an hour later, a large odd-looking Navy ship came into view. As it loomed closer, he saw large white letters on the ship: L 421. He could not make out what nation the ship belonged to. The ship suddenly turned away from them and he could see the stern now. It looked like there was a huge ramp coming down. The big ship slowly made its way backwards to them. They got to about twenty feet away and a sailor in a life vest and a dark blue uniform heaved a line to him. He reached out and grabbed it, the sailor made a tying motion and Joel tied it to a strap. Suddenly they were moving quickly towards the towering ship. He felt them hit the solid ramp and the continued up a ways.

  Several sailors came running up as Joel peeled back the cover. The first man there came up to Joel and addressed him.

  “Ensign Taylor, sir. How many aboard?”

  “Just two besides me, one has a bad head injury.”

  “Are you able to walk sir?” Joel nodded to him.

  The Ensign reached in and grabbed Joel's hand and helped him out as other sailors swarmed the now dry docked life raft. As Joel was ushered away into the hold of the big ship, he saw them assist Sarah out and put JJ on a stretcher and ran her past him.

  “Sir, please accompany me.” The Ensign led him up several flights of steps and down a long hallway to the medic and examination room. When he went in, he saw an officer and the medic.

  The man who looked like he was in charge addressed him. “Welcome aboard the HMNZS Canterbury. I am Captain Stewart with the New Zealand Navy. This conversation is being recorded, sir.
Please identify yourself.”

  “Joel Kirby Miller sir, we went down on the Virgo Charter flight to American Samoa.” He replied quietly, looking down.

  “Mr. Miller, are there other survivors?” The Captain asked with urgency. He watched Joel as he continued to look down at his shoes. “Sir, we must facilitate a rescue as reports of heavy seas are coming this way as we speak, anyone out there will most certainly perish. Mr. Miller!”

  Tears began rolling down his cheeks and he looked up into the Captain’s eyes, “They are all dead. A—a another raft got out but, but it was empty… I—I think the plane sucked them down. Halo…” He paused and choked, he knew he just signed her death warrant, “… is dead. He fucking killed her… I couldn’t help her!” He cried out and felt the comforting hand of the Captain squeeze his shoulder in sympathy.

  Day Three

  Xander’s heart dropped as he listened to Halo’s labored breathing while she slept. He could hear crackling and wheezing in both her lungs. She felt hot to the touch and the hot sun out in the open sea did nothing to help her fever.

  He removed the dishcloth from her head and it felt hot. He quickly dipped it in the sea, wrung it out and placed back on her forehead. With his belly in knots, he searched through his carry on and pulled out the satellite phone. Taking it out from the plastic bag, he said a silent prayer as his finger hovered over the power button.

  He held his breath as he depressed it, holding it down for a count of three he then released it. He waited, but nothing appeared on the fogged over screen. He brought the phone up to his ear and no sound was to be heard as he pushed the all the buttons, the phone was dead. He tried depressing the power button again, pushing down harder. The phone was still dead. He began rummaging through all their bags for the phone’s charging cable. His search came up with nothing. With a frightened glance at Halo’s restless sleep, he swallowed hard as he placed the phone back into the plastic bag. He shook his head sadly and began devising a way to make a sail.

  Day Five

  She felt even weaker today; whenever she looked at him, he wore such a worried look on his face for her. The only good thing was she was not throwing up anymore, but she was feverish and the warm weather made it so uncomfortable. She watched through heavy lidded eyes as he held the sail’s lines his strong hands. She so loved watching him, his movements were so sure and strong, but then he was so gentle when he cared for her. She threw care aside and truly wished he was hers. He looked back to her and smiled, her heart felt warm and happy whenever he did. She had to ask him, before she became any weaker…

  Xander tied off the sail lines and came over, “Hey there beautiful. Can I get you some water?”

  She gave her head a little shake, “Xan- Xander…” She whispered weakly to him, “Where do I know you from? Please…” She moved her hand towards him and rested it on his thigh.

  “Halo… I’m right here with you. You know me from the plane and the audition. Hey! When you get better, we can sit down and talk this out. Maybe I was somewhere where you were. So you better hang in there, ok?”

  She nodded at him and he changed out the damp cloth on her forehead, “I’ll try…” She mumbled as he leaned over and listened to her chest again. He came back up and his lips were so close to hers again, all she wanted to do was pull him to her own lips, but for one, she was too weak and the other… there it was again: he was not hers to have.

  “Halo?” He asked quietly, “If we were on land I could try something I learned from Yiayia. Evie had pneumonia…”

  “Who is Evie?” Halo asked in a whisper.

  “Oh! Uh, Evie is my wife’s name.” He replied, curious as to why he had not yet told Halo, his wife’s name.

  “It’s a pretty name.” She replied and moved her hand off his thigh.

  “Anyway, there is an ancient method for this. It seemed to help Evie… the reason why I’m asking is that if we get somewhere and you are out of it… I uh, have to take your shirt off… I’m sorry?”

  “Silly… of course, you can do anything… I owe you my life Mr. Handsome man…” She replied in short breaths.

  Xander felt his eyes sting, “Halo… if it wasn’t for you... I owe you everything.” He choked up and gathered himself, “Don’t worry I only need to remove your shirt. Ok?”

  She nodded, closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

  Later in the day, as the sun was beginning to set on the calm sea, he woke her up, “Halo?” He called out to her and her eyes slowly opened. “Do you think you can cough for me? I want to pat on your back and loosen up the gunk. You think you can do that?”

  She gave him a single nod. He scooped her up slowly and held her to his chest, “I’m going to pat firmly, and if it hurts you let me know.” She nodded again. He began patting her back from above her mid back to her shoulders. He did this several times and suddenly she began coughing. He quickly held out the bowl for her and she got up a mouthful of phlegm. She did her best to spit it out; he caught it up and looked at it. This time there was blood mixed in the ugly gray gunk.

  “Can you do more?” He asked, trying to hide his alarm.

  Her head flopped as she tried to shake it no. He held her tight against him, his heart felt like it was breaking into pieces once again, “Halo, baby. Please hold on for me!” He looked down to her and saw her eyes were glassy and heavy lidded and looking up at him.

  “I’ll… try. Xan… where do I… know you?” She whispered faintly to him.

  “Soon, Halo. Soon. Please stay with me, I’m going to sail all night. There has to be something or someone out there! Please Halo!” His throat seized up and he was afraid he would burst into sobs if he continued to speak. He held her tightly and rocked her. He heard her whisper to him.

  “Xan…der, please. If I don’t make it…” she gasped for air, “please don’t… dump me in the water… please?” She begged at him.

  “Halo, you are going to pull through. I would never do that! So don’t worry. I so wish I could trade places with you! You don’t deserve this!” He could not help the sob that escaped, and he worked hard to choke the rest back in silence.

  In an even weaker voice, she fought to continue, “You… make me feel so good… no one, like this… I—I have to tell you… something.” With all her strength, she slowly inched her hand up and touched his face.

  Xander felt the hot tears roll down his face, he desperately tried to wipe them away but they were coming too fast for one hand, “Halo, tell me tomorrow. Ok? Promise me, please?” He begged her with sobs choking his pained throat.

  “Ok…” She whispered and closed her eyes. She felt him kiss her forehead; it was so warm and soft. She even felt a little tingle; she was wishing it were on her lips as she fell into a deep sleep.

  Xander gently laid her down on the rafts webbing. With tears burning his eyes and clouding his vision, he took up the sail’s lines and with a deathly determination, he set out to find somewhere or somebody. He decided he would not sleep or stop until then, even if it killed him.

  Day Six

  Halo woke up to Xander yelling something. It hurt so bad to take in even a small breath. She tried to concentrate on his words, but his words did not make any sense. She managed to crack open her eyes and saw him looking at her and pointing, he had the lines in his hands. She closed her eyes and welcomed the sleep as her chest felt like an elephant was using it as its personal dance floor.

  It seemed like days later, but he was picking her up. She managed to open an eye and saw fear on his face then suddenly he gasped out in pain. She wanted to ask why but he kept carrying her somewhere. She heard another gasp of pain from him and opened her eye again. She saw tears coming down his face, she felt like crying as it hurt her to seem him like that. She realized that they were no longer on the raft. She looked up and saw palm trees gently swaying in the wind. They looked so green and beautiful against the sunny, deep blue sky… she smiled as darkness came up to greet her.

  She heard him shout at
her, what was he saying? She smelled smoke, his words came slowly drifting into her conscious, “Halo! PLEASE! Stay with me! Don’t go back to sleep! PLEASE!” He was yelling at her with such pain in his voice.

  She tried to nod, not sure if she did or not. She wanted to tell him what her heart felt, and she wanted, no—needed to know where she knew him from. She tried to take a breath to speak, pain shot through her chest and down her arms. She wanted to cry out, but there was no more room for air in her lungs, she felt as if she were drowning as the elephant on her chest began to sit down hard and fast.

  With tiny fast breaths she doubted the sound of her voice would come, she forced her eyes open and saw him hunched over her, his pretty green eyes were bloodshot with deep dark bags under them, she saw his tears flowing down his face. Her heart begged her to tell him how she felt about him, but he was not hers to tell such things, “Wish we had more time. Never felt like… when I’m with you. I’m so sorry.” She managed in a barely audible whisper.