SUMMARY: This story starts out on a cruise ship that Sheridan and Luis had boarded to
escape Roger’s hitmen.
Sheridan silently prayed as she watched in terror as the wave built it
strength and prepared to come crashing down. She clung to the railing the
ship that suddenly seemed so small and fragile as the fierce stormed
threatened it. She sighed, heavily. Luis had told her she would make it. He
had promised her. She wondered if he was still alive. Thank you, Luis. Thank
you, she whispered as the wave crashed above her. I love you. I really do.
Sheridan’s words as well as her heart, mind, body and soul were washed off
the ship, taken into the deep blue ocean that held the secrets of so many.
“For those in Peril, on the sea,” The many attendants of the church memorial
sang. Not Luis, though. Luis sat in pew, eyes wide. How is this possible? He
thought. How could I have let her die? I was supposed to save her. I was. I
am a failure. I let her die. Luis looked around the church. He looked next
to him to Theresa who was padding her face with a tissue.
He looked at
Miguel next to Theresa listening intently to the sermon. He looked to his
mother, with her head buried in her hands, sobbing. His eyes scanned the
church. Almost all of Harmony was there; morning over the loss of loved
ones. He looked to the front, where Julian, Ivy, and Ethan sat. His gaze
fixed on Ethan, who was leaning against the front of the pew, sobbing
uncontrollably. His mother, also in tears tried to comfort him but was to no
avail. Luis looked back to the head of the church where someone preached
about something. He sighed, and a single tear slipped down his face. How
could he have let this happen? He silently thought as the choir sang,
Sorry I never told you
All I wanted to say
Now it's too late to hold you
'Cause you've flown away
So far away
Never had I imagined
Living without your smile
Feeling and knowing you hear me
It keeps me alive
Alive
And I know you're shining down on me from heaven
Like many friends we've lost along the way
And I know eventually we'll be together
One sweet day
Darling I never showed you
Assumed you'd always be there
Took your presence for granted
But I always cared
And I miss the love we shared
And I know you're shining down on me from heaven
Like so many friends we've lost along the way
And I know eventually we'll be together
One sweet day
Although the sun will shine the same
I'll always look to a brighter day
Lord I know when I lay me down to sleep
You will always listen as I pray
And I know you're shining on me from heaven
Like so many friends we've lost along the way
And I know eventually we'd be together
One sweet day
And I know you're shining on me from heaven
Like so many friends we've lost along the way
And I know eventually we'd be together
One sweet day
Sorry I never told you
All I wanted to say
At the end of the mass, Luis walked up to the picture of Sheridan sitting
next to the pictures of other victims. She was smiling, arm wrapped around
Ethan. He lightly brushed the picture with his fingers. She was so
beautiful. “I’m sorry, Sheridan. I Love you,” he whispered. His words
shocked him at first. He had always known he loved her. But I never got the
chance to tell her, he thought as another tear dripped down his cheek. Her
picture smiled up at him. He slowly turned his head and walked out with
everyone else.
Luis sat on the docks a few days later staring out into the ocean. The water
looked beautiful and peaceful as the waves broke and plunged into shore. The
sun was setting casting a reddish-orange glow. Luis threw a rock and watched
as it skipped throughout the water. It was all too much for him, this
beautiful place. He buried his head in his hands and for the first time,
just sobbed. Sobbed over Sheridan.
“I’m sorry, Sheridan,” he said in between sobs. “I’m sorry I didn’t save
you. I wanted to. I hope someday, someday you will forgive me. Because,
because I love you. I love you,” he stammered. “That’s right, Sheridan,” he
said with a little laugh, “I love you! I love you more than anything else in
the world. And you were wrong, Sheridan,” he said, laughing and smiling at
the sky, his tear streaked face lit up. “You were wrong. You didn’t think
you would ever find true love,” Luis stood up and threw open his arms. “I’m
here, Sheridan!,” he yelled. “Look at me. I am here! Please, please come to
me!,” He yelled. “Please. Please,” he stammered, sobbing again and falling
to the ground. “I miss you, Sheridan. I miss you so much,” he whispered.
“Did you get my letter, Sheridan?,” Luis said in a low voice. “ I hope you
did,” he kneeled down beside the gravestone. “I left it here for you,” he
said. He furrowed his brows. Where was it? He had set the letter to Sheridan
there just yesterday, under a bouquet of roses. And they were both gone. He
smiled. “You took them, didn’t you Sheridan?,” he said. “Thank you.”
“I am so excited!,” he said, sitting down. “I am leaving. I don’t know
exactly where I am going. I’m not scared, though, Sheridan. Not at all. I’m
going to miss Mama, and Theresa, Miguel. But I will be able to watch and
listen to them just like you watch and listen to me,” Luis was feeling the
effects of the bottle of pills he took before he came. “Nothing else
matters,” he said leaning against the stone. “Nothing matters, because I
will be where you are,” and shut his eyes, smile on his face.
THE END