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I went out on the top deck to check on Anemone. The ship tilted slightly and rocked softly, but I didn’t think too much of it.

When I reached the top step, I heard a scream, and the splashing of water. Anemone fell from the ship into the icy waters below.

“ANEMONE!!!” the scream escaped my mouth.

Just as I was about to jump in to save her, a hand grabbed the back of my shirt and stopped me.

“Dominique.” I turned around to face my newly-made friend, John. “It’s too late. She’s gone.” He pointed at the horizon. Far off in the distance, I could see a tiny dot of pink slowly floating away.

John saved my life, but he broke my heart telling me the bad news. I ran over to the side of the boat to make sure that Anemone wasn’t at the bottom. How could she have floated away so quickly?

I sighed a defeated sigh, and sat down. I didn’t care if I was sitting in a puddle of cold, wet mud. I didn’t care that my 4365 dollar suit was getting soiled.

Anemone was gone forever. Lost at sea. Maybe she would get eaten by sharks.

I wish I could exchange places with her! Why her, and not me?

John looked at me with a sad but comforting face.

Raindrops fell and splattered on my head.

“Come on, Dominique. Let’s go inside.” His voice was barely a whisper.

I went down to my cabin, locked the door, and collapsed on my bed.

Anemone.

My Anemone.

She was all I ever cared about, and now she’s gone. It’s all my fault. I didn’t take good care of her.

Please, Anemone, please come back to me.

Please.

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