Grace sat staring into the blue ocean. The sea seemed calm and still from afar. Closer to the beach, the waves chased each other, bubbling into white foam. Exactly ten years ago she remembered sitting there defeated but with hope. She told Rain that there were so many things that she wanted to do. Even through the fog, the new beginnings were within her reach. Now they seemed so far away. She felt that walking into the blue ocean, letting the waves wrap around her, would be the most serene that she would ever feel.
She felt someone tap her shoulder. She looked behind to find a woman peering at her. The woman's eyes lit up as she said “It's been such a long time since I saw you”. She stared blankly at the woman “I'm sorry. Have we met before?”. The woman sat down next to her “It's me. Claire.” Grace looked at the women next to her but still couldn't place her. “I'm sorry. I think you have the wrong person”. Claire tilted her head “No I know you. I would recognise you anywhere”. You… forgot all about me didn't you”? Grace shook her head “You definitely have the wrong person”.
Silence filled the air as Grace and Claire looked at each other without blinking. The only sound was of the waves crashing into the shore. Grace took a deep breath and looked away first. Claire spoke softly “What are you doing here all alone staring into the ocean?” Grace replied “I don't know you. Leave”. Claire said “I won't make a sound. I'll just be next to you”. Grace was too exhausted to muster a reply. She thought that Claire didn't look harmful. As long as she didn't disturb her, it wouldn't matter. Claire sat with her in silence till the sun touched the ocean turning the blue into pinkish-orange.
The sky slowly turned dark and one could no longer make out the ocean, except for faint lights from ships. Grace lay on her back, looking up at the sky. Claire mirrored her. For some reason Grace felt deeply comforted by Claire’s presence. She didn't feel the need to fill the space with words. The lapping of the water and the change of the landscape before her eyes made every muscle in her body relax. Grace turned towards Claire and asked “How long do you plan to stay here?”. Claire closed her eyes and replied “As long as you want”. Grace also closed her eyes “It feels really heavy. Every single day has been filled with the same fog”. The giggles of children could be heard in the background. A faint breeze tickled their bare feet. Grace continued “There is no difference between yesterday and today and tomorrow is going to be the same as well. The ocean looks so welcoming. All I have to do is step in”. Silence fell again and the air got colder. Grace suddenly felt that the heaviness in the air dispelled. She breathed in the salty air.
Claire's voice rang out “I know. I feel exactly the same. I came to keep you company. I know no matter how beautiful and serene the ocean looks, you won't walk into it. You didn't 15 years ago and you won't now either”. Grace, with her eyes still closed, said “I'm a mess though. I want to be free, free in a way that I'm not remembered by anyone”. Claire said, “Stay here for as long as you need. You know when the time comes you'll go back, even if it's all meaningless”. Grace opened her eyes and turned to look at Claire, but there was no one beside her. She could still feel the warmth from Claire. Grace blinked, dazed. She was going to ask Claire, how did she know about her so well. Grace sighed and thought that maybe she'll meet her again somewhere else some other time. Claire seemed to know where to find her
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