Come back to me

Kate sat on the balcony looking out over the water as she drank her morning coffee. She couldn't remember a time when she felt more at peace than she did right now, finally getting to live the life she wanted after living alone for so long. Nowadays, she has a job she enjoys, wonderful friends who really care. And of course a wonderful girlfriend whom she loves above all else, the only thing missing now is for Lucy to come home. With only 3 weeks to go before she is back home, Kate has time to think before she hears a knock on the door.

Jane, what are you doing here? Is it an urgent case?

Jane managed to interrupt Kate before she continued with her questions.

No, it's not a case, Kate. Can I come in and talk?

Then it dawned on her. Has something happened to Lucy? Jane! Tell me what's happening!!

While Kate began to panic about what had happened, Jane tried to get the information that she herself hadn't had time to digest yet. When she got the call, she had gone straight to Kate's apartment to make sure she didn't find out about this from anyone else.

Kate, sit down, please.

Kate grew more and more frustrated that Jane was taking so long to get to the point.

Just tell me!!

Okay, Jane began tentatively. There has been an accident on the ship Lucy is on.

Is she ok

Kate, Lucy, fell overboard last night, and they have been unable to locate her despite an intensive search tonight. They don't think anyone would have survived that long in the cold water, especially not after such a high fall.

Kate felt the ground beneath her start to rock, and she had trouble staying on her feet, she managed to sink onto the edge of the sofa.

What are you saying, Jane?

I'm so sorry, Kate, but Lucy is dead. Jane said with tears streaming down her cheeks.

No, that's not true, it can't be true. My Lucy is coming home in just a few weeks, it must be wrong.

No, Jane, please tell me it's not true, it can't be true!!!

Kate collapsed on the floor in a heap, crying.

Jane sat on the floor and held her as she cried out all her despair and sorrow. What do you say to comfort someone whose life has just been destroyed? There was nothing Jane could do to comfort.

Finally, the crying stopped and Kate quietly asks, "How did it happen?"

Jane had received no more information than that it had been an accident and Lucy had fallen overboard.

But how did she manage to fall overboard, surely they must know how that happened? Kate asked desperately.

Kate, look at me. I promise to find out what happened. We won't give up until we know.

A moment later Kate sat alone staring ahead, Jane had reluctantly left her alone, but they agreed that the team needed to know as soon as possible. And that Jane would demand answers about how the accident happened.

The feeling of despair had been replaced by an extreme emptiness, Kate remembered the feeling from when Noah died but this was so much worse, Lucy was her future and soul mate, and it had been torn away from her.

But then suddenly she remembered what Jane had said, they hadn't found Lucy's body, then there had to be a chance she was still alive.

Kate hurried out onto the balcony where she had been sitting just moments ago thinking how good life was right now. She looked out at the horizon and whispered to Lucy, you must be out there somewhere, please come back to me.

Somewhere at sea

Kate? Kate? Where are you?