Journal Entry (Stan #11)

We were strolling down the pier, gently holding hands as the sun began to slowly set on the most perfect summer day. The sand started to be molded between our toes, I giggled at the feeling. The warm, tan, and almost sparkling tan crystals were almost like powder, it was so pure. The water was beautiful, it was clear, and bluer than the sky.

"It's so beautiful out here," I whispered in your ear.

You smiled, "not as beautiful as you."

You squeezed my hand tighter, and we began to frolick into the tide. The salty water sprayed us in our faces. I grabbed a handful of muddy and wet sand, and threw it at your face. You laughed and put your arms around me in a really tight bear hug, and then began to lift me off the ground and spin me around. I squealed into a laugh, and I held on to you tightly. You let me down, and gave me more of a gentler hug, and we both giggled and kissed. It was truly a perfect day, happiness was overflowing my heart, and I just felt like I had to catch the memory of this wonderful day.

"Hey babe, I want to go get my camera from the car, I will be right back." I grinned.

"Okay, hurry back though, I'll miss you! " you replied and laughed, "I love you."

"I love you too." I went over to you and gave you a quick kiss, but it was probably the most magical kiss we had shared yet, and I didn't know why.

I ran off to the car, the hot black top was burning the bottom of my feet. I hopped into the passenger seat, and started to look for my camera. I looked all over the floor and under beach blankets and baskets, but I couldn't find it anywhere. I looked for it for about 45 minutes, and I was expecting for you to come back and see why it was taking me such a long time, but you never did, but I didn't pay much attention to that.

I kept looking for the camera, until, all of a sudden, an ambulance came flying into the parking lot. Two men hopped out of the driver and passenger seats, grabbed a stretcher from the back, and began running towards the water. My heart began to pound, and I jumped out of the car and began to run to the water as fast as I possibly could. When I finally reached the edge of the sand, I watched in horror as they lifted you (my finacee) out of the water onto the stretcher, and put a sheet over his face. I followed them back to the ambulance, my legs feeling like jello. My heart felt like it had stopped, and I fell to my knees, tears began streaming down my face, the saltiness started to burn my eyes. I watched as they rolled your body into the ambulance and shut the big white doors. I saw a man standing next to his car with his cell phone in his hand on the other side of the parking lot.

He walked slowly towards me, "did you know him?"

"Yeah... he asked me to marry him this morning," more tears started to fill my eyes.

"Oh, I am so sorry for your loss," he patted my arm, "I saw him, he was getting deeper and deeper into the water, and there was this wave..." he looked down at his feet, "I saw him struggling once it hit, and I tried to run over, but the waves were too strong, and they just kept coming and pulling him down. So I called 911, but it was too late."

I gave him a hug, "thank you."

"No problem," he said, "do you need a ride, or do you need someone to talk to?"

"Its okay, but thanks, I'll just follow the ambulance to the hospital."

He nodded and left to his car. I slowly walked myself to your car, and slid into the driver's seat. Your cologne still filled the car, the sweet scent filled my nose. I looked at the ring on my finger, the little diamond sparkled. I slid it off of my finger, and held it in both hands. I brought it to my lips and kissed it. I held it near my heart. My eyes were closed, the salty tears dripped from my eyes. "I could of saved you, I could of saved you from drowning, if I would of just stayed."