The crashing of waves was all Dick could hear as he was dragged onto shore, his head throbbing horribly. Bits and pieces from last night were rushing back to him—from his birthday celebration with his crewmates, the fireworks…to that wretched storm. The last thing he could recall was being flung overboard, sinking deep into raging waters.

He was convinced he was dead, that was until he heard singing. His eyes fluttered open, and in his blurry vision, he saw a silhouette leaning over him—your silhouette. Though he couldn’t see your face, he could hear you. And by the gods, you sounded wonderful. Your voice seemed as if it belonged to a siren, luring him to the unknown. It both delighted and saddened him, comforted and haunted his thoughts.

He laid frozen on the sand, drawn to the melody you were singing to him. The sun was beginning to rise, painting the sky in orange and red. The fabric of his blouse was sticking uncomfortably on his skin, his clothes completely drenched from his earlier submersion, but he wasn’t concerned by that. No, not at all. You were here, his sole reminder of how lucky he was. He could focus on nothing but you. With slow breaths, he listened to your voice, too out of his mind to hear shouts from the distance—calling for him.