Awakening

I felt my eyes flutter open. The numbness in my body was still there, and I felt much better, but the air stung my throat as I took a deep breath. “Finally! Thank god!” I heard someone say beside me, almost barely audible. I turned my head, and saw Jake. I felt a smile creep onto my lips, but I shivered, freezing, from the cold water that still clung to my body.

I let out a raspy cough, and attempted to sit up. I didn’t have nearly enough energy, so my head fell back down and thumped against the floor of the boat. What boat? I asked myself, trying to regain my memory. Jake quickly picked my head up and laid it across his lap. “You okay?” he asked, looking more worried by the second. I weakly nodded, because my throat hurt too much. 

Jake gently stood up and pulled me up with him, pulling me close so I wouldn’t fall. He picked me up bridal style and set me on one of the larger seats, pressing my head against the cushion. A few seconds later, he had a blanket and a bunch of towels. He wrapped me up and sat down next to me. “Is it okay if I–” I nodded and he pulled me into a warm embrace. I felt his wet cheek on my forehead and looked into his eyes in the moonlight. His hair was a darker shade than before, and I noticed water dripping from it, down his cheeks. He had come to get me. I smiled a little and buried my head in the crook of his neck, feeling the warmth that radiated off of him, even though he was cold and wet from the water also.

I loved being here, wrapped up in his arms, and soon, I could feel the warmth spreading throughout my body and getting rid of the numbness. “I thought I’d almost lost you, Margaret. That was a close one.” I nodded silently. I wanted nothing more than to stay here forever, but I knew fate wouldn’t swing that way. The burning in my throat intensified, and I gasped at the pain, filling my lungs with air. Jake pulled away. He walked back to the driver’s spot and started up the boat’s engine, and pulled the small anchor from the water. “We have to find them, Margaret.” I nodded, again, but knew he couldn’t see that. I sighed, loving the way that my name sounded coming from his lips. The air felt colder without him with me.