Jake’s words lingered in my mind long after he left. The night deepened, but I still hadn’t found my answer.

The sound of crickets filled my bedroom. Moonlight flooded through the open windows, and a breeze chilled my skin. I shivered and twisted in the bed. Even in the cold, droplets of sweat formed on my forehead.

I clutched the bedsheets as words and images blurred behind my closed eyelids. And right on cue, I was pulled into a vivid dream.

Slowly, the sound of the crickets faded away, and I heard the crashing of waves. I opened my eyes. I stood on a boat, the sun bright above me. My body swayed with the gentle rhythm of the sea, and I smiled. I liked this. It was soothing. Comforting.

At a distance, I heard laughter. The sound was music to my ears. I longed to seek the source and took a step away from the railing. The boat lurched. I staggered and gripped the railing again. Above me, dark clouds swallowed the sun. As if someone had turned off a switch, color vanished from my surroundings. The yellow, the blue, the pink—all turned into a mass of grey and black.

The clouds roared and thundered, and a heavy downpour began. I stood at the edge of the boat, drenched in the rain.

A familiar fear gripped me. No. I have to find them! I have to get them inside!

I shouted a warning. No words came out of my mouth. Or perhaps the howl of the wind carried them away. The sea wasn’t comforting me anymore. It was violent. Angry. Waves fought against the boat, rocking it left and right. I tried to maintain my footing.

But I was doomed to lose from the beginning.

Like always, I plunged into the cold, unforgiving water. And it enveloped me in its cruel embrace. There was no escape. Water was everywhere. Around me, inside me. I flailed my hands around. I kicked my legs. Where was the surface?

Why do you struggle, Noah? The sea whispered. Stop fighting. Surrender to me.

I gave up. Even if I lived this nightmare a thousand times, I knew I would drown. That was my fate. Water consumed me once again, and I closed my eyes. 

I let myself go down… further down…

A hand grasped my arm. The warmth startled me inside the cold sea. I snapped my eyes open as it pulled me upwards. Up and up, until I was out of the water. Air filled my lungs again. My head rested on soft sand, and I stared at the sunny sky.

How? How was I saved? Who saved me?

As if in tandem with my thoughts, the face of my savior hovered over me.

Isla touched my cheek, her blue eyes filled with concern, and murmured something. I was too stunned to understand her the first time. Her rosy lips moved slowly, and I concentrated on them as she whispered, “Don’t worry, Noah. I’m here for you. I’ll save you.”

“How?” I croaked out. A fist continued to squeeze my heart, making it hard for me to breathe. Tears trickled down my cheeks. “It still hurts… a lot.”

The confession left my mouth against my will. But Isla didn’t judge me. She smiled and caressed my cheek. “I’ll make you forget the pain, Noah.”

I touched her hand on my cheek, locking it in place. Isla held my gaze. She leaned forward, her hot breath fanning my face. A lock of her wet hair escaped her ear and tickled my chin. Her presence filled my vision and thoughts, and I became numb to the pain.

Isla inched closer. I closed my eyes. I waited for the touch of her soft lips over mine—but a shrill sound rang in my ears.

The whirlpool of emotions and images wavered and disappeared. I woke up with a gasp. The alarm clock blared on my bedside table, and I slammed it off. My heart thudded inside my chest, and I wiped the sweat off my forehead. I looked out of the window and winced at the sunlight.

The after-effect of the dream still lingered in my mind. I feebly touched my hot cheeks and my lips. I could still feel Isla’s touch. Her voice. The almost kiss…

My body flushed. I took in deep breaths but realized I wasn’t out of breath. I didn’t feel suffocated. How? Every time I drowned in my nightmares—I paused.

I hadn’t drowned. For the first time, someone had pulled me out of the water.

Isla had saved me.

The dream followed me to work. How was I supposed to face Isla now? And right when I wanted to change her as my swim instructor… I stepped out of the elevator and into the lobby.

I saw her right away.

Isla wore a navy blue dress today—that color always brought out the blue in her eyes. And like in my dream, she was smiling, helping someone with directions. She looked up and caught me staring. I hadn’t realized I had paused at the entrance.

She widened her smile. My gaze strayed over to her lips. The image of her leaning down to kiss me flashed inside my head, and I quickly looked away.

I cursed under my breath and strode to my office. Isla greeted me. I heard her soft murmur, the same concerned tone from my dream. But I couldn’t stop. If I did, she would see something was wrong with me. That I was losing my mind.

I sat down in my chair and took deep breaths. A familiar prickling sensation at the back of my neck made me look up. Isla snapped her gaze away a moment too late. I knew she had been staring through the glass wall. Did she figure something out? I couldn’t take any chances today, and I hurriedly closed the blinds. 

Dreams were dangerous, I concluded. My mind hadn’t played enough tricks on me already, so it wanted to throw Isla into the mix too. 

My phone buzzed. I clicked on the message from Jake. So what’s your decision?

I groaned and closed my eyes. He was asking me about Isla again. Was there anything in my life that wasn’t about her at this point?

I almost replied that I wanted to change her as my instructor, but then paused. Maybe Jake was right. Maybe this was what the dream was about. Even if I was hesitant, my subconscious mind already trusted her. It was urging me to give her a chance.

I released a harsh breath and changed my reply. Isla will stay as my swim instructor.

In an instant, Jake sent me dancing emojis. I chuckled, but then remembered my last conversation with Isla and winced. I had walked out on her without a reply.

If I wanted her to stay, I had to make amends with her. I sent another text to Jake. Bowling today? I’d like to meet your girlfriend.

I looked at the blinds and hoped Isla would show up too.