“Thank you, Raif, for being kind.” I could feel his whole body melt in my arms. I wasn’t sure if it was me, or the electric current zipping through, but surely no one could stay tense with that much stimulation. Just hugging him made me forget everything else in my life. I’d never dreamed that I could love someone so much in such a short time.
Wait.
No.
I don’t love him.
I’ve only known him for an hour! This isn’t possible. I can believe that I died, I can even believe in the existence of a mythical island, but this?
No way.
I pulled away before he noticed I was shaking.
“Raif, tell me about Atlantis. If I am going to be stuck here, I’d like to at least know a little about it.” I was amazed that my voice hid the trembling I still felt in my limbs. I prayed that whatever was happening to me was just an after effect of dying, or almost dying, or whatever had happened. I prayed fervently that I’d be able to leave this place and return to Katie and Ash where I at least understood my life. I couldn’t live without them, and a portion of my heart was starting to believe that I wouldn’t be able to live without this man I barely knew. I desperately needed a distraction.
“What would you care to know?” Raif’s voice was barely above a whisper, and it was quavering so badly I knew he was having just as much difficulty as I was. A distraction would be good for both of us.
“Anything, everything. How did it come about? What’s your culture like? Why’d you sink? Where were you located? I want to know it all.” I was pacing his room, slowly distancing myself from him because my entire being wanted to fling myself into his arms and never let go. What was wrong with me? Maybe when I met with the priests they’d tell me that this was some weird Atlantean bond and that when I left, it would too.
“I will tell you the story that is passed down from generation to generation in my family. Our origin is a rather long story, and barring no interruptions, should last as we walk toward the castle. I cannot delay your introductions any further, or I will face the king’s wrath. Would that be sufficient for you?” He was so animated, mesmerizing really. I found myself leaning against his plush bed just watching him talk. Every nuance was displayed on his face, his whole body shared in his frustration and love for his homeland. I’d never seen someone so open, so vulnerable, and innocent.
“Okay. Let’s go.”
I was very careful not to touch him as we left his house. I wasn’t sure what would happen anymore. It felt like every time I made contact with him, my heart left to meld with his. Even after just a few casual touches, I felt bereft without him. Emotions I’d never felt before clutched my heart into a vise that was nearly debilitating in its pain. I clenched my hands into fists by my sides in direct violation of their deepest desire.
He destroyed all my good intentions when we walked out the door and his hand found my clenched fist and molded itself perfectly to me. We both immediately relaxed. He looked down at our hands in shock.
“Forgive me. I am unsure what has come over me. I did not mean to take liberties.” He moved to let go of me and I held on tighter.
“Raif, please. It’s harmless. I think we both feel better touching, even though I don’t understand why. I need to feel better right now though, so please, just hold my hand.” If he knew what it cost me to admit to needing another person’s comfort, he never showed it. He was distracting me from my first glimpse of an island that before today I thought was only a myth told to give hope to those who lived in oppression.
This place brought out hushed tones; it was a place of refuge and respect. It was more pure than any cathedral I’d ever stepped foot in and more beautiful than any garden found on any magazine cover. It quite literally took my breath away with its splendor.
A stone path led away from Raif’s house. The stones were a deep russet, and I’d never seen any like them before. They were multifaceted like a ruby, and led to a road of packed dirt. From there, I saw two more red stone paths meandering away, but couldn’t see where they led, or much else past the solid dirt road as massive trees blocked most of my view. They towered higher than any skyscraper I’d seen at home; the tops lost in the cloud cover. There were big, white, fluffy clouds scattered throughout the blue sky, almost completely hiding the shimmer of something beyond.
“Wow.” My exclamation was hushed, more of an exhalation of breath at the natural serenity. “It’s even more beautiful than I could have dreamed about. Raif, how do you live in such beauty and not weep for
