It was a dreary grey day. The clouds were accumulating in the sky again and it looked like it may rain soon. It had been raining on and off since late last evening. Twilight was fast approaching and Bernice was worried as she gazed out the lighthouse window. Where was he? Ethan was supposed to be back hours ago.
He had left yesterday morning out to sea, a quick fishing trip. Bernice couldn’t help but worry. She decided to head over to her neighbor’s and see if there was any word on the men.
As she walked towards the village, she noticed some drifting wood along the coastline. She changed course and headed towards the rocky beach. As she got closer she recognized that these were parts of the trawler. All along the beach lay pieces of wood, mast and fabric. She panicked and started running.
No sooner did she arrive near the village when a young man came running up to her. “Bernice, there was an accident at sea and we don’t know if any of the men survived!”
Bernice was heart-broken. Tears streaming down her cheeks, she resolved to find out where Ethan was. Her love promised to return and after this journey and to never go out to sea again. They promised to have a life to each other, and they were married last week.
At the marina, other men from town had gathered. They quieted as Bernice approached. There was a sullen look among them and they treated her like like his fate was already sealed. She gathered her strength and made a call for aid. “I need a boat. I am going out to find him. None of you have to go with me. I will find Ethan myself.”
They snickered. One replied, “Woman, you can’t go out there alone and there is a storm brewing. Those men that went out, they likely did not survive.” She vigorously protested to which he replied, “Even if they did survive how many of them could swim the ocean and make it back?”
Bernice replied, “Ethan would.” As she marched towards a dinghy and got in, “If he lives, I will find him. If not, then I will will die knowing we are together even in the afterlife.”
As she rowed and got further away from land, the rain began to fall. She knew she would be in trouble, but if only she could find Ethan. What she was doing was crazy. But, crazy is love, is it not? She convinced herself to continue on. She was tired and sore, but her instinct drew her out to sea. To some random place.
As she stopped to rest, she looked out to the horizon. There was something in the water. She could not tell what it was. Mustering up the last of her strength, she rowed toward it. She was close to exhaustion. Feeling defeated, glassy eyed and helpless in a small boat at sea, she started to cry. She was crying so hard at first, that she didn’t hear her name being called.
Then she kept hearing it, “Bernice”. Looking around she could not tell where the sound was coming from. Suddenly she spotted him, a lone man in the vast sea, swimming towards her. “Ethan!”, she yelled as she tried to turn the dinghy.
He kept swimming. The waves were rolling around and he looked like a bottle tossed out at sea, but little by little he kept creeping towards her. With renewed strength, Bernice began to row. They finally reached eachother and Ethan dragged himself into the boat with her help. They embraced. Ethan cupped Bernice’s face and stared into her eyes, “my love, I swam the ocean to get back to you.” He slammed his lips to hers and kissed her as if she was the most precious gift on Earth.
When he pulled away, they sat down in the dinghy and each took an oar. Together they rowed back to land and back to their life together.
