Juliet

On the boat, they took care of us, gave Lock medicine, bound his wounds, and gave him painkillers. They gave us proper clothes and food and water, and they gave me a cabin to sleep in.

I was so tired, I slept through a storm. I can’t even remember the waves crashing against the ship. All I know is that the pillow underneath my head felt so good.

I guess I had to process everything that happened in my own way … with a good night’s sleep.

When I wake up, I take my first real shower. The water pouring down on my face feels so nice, but it doesn’t make me happy. Doesn’t make me smile as I thought it would.

I step out, dry off, and put on a pair of actual pants and a shirt I found in the closet. Not my size, but it’ll work. I look at myself in the mirror and give myself a fake smile, which dissipates immediately.

I can’t be happy when Lock isn’t.

Can’t be sitting here, pretending everything is okay when he might be dying.

I even feel guilty for sleeping so long and for taking a shower when I don’t even know how he’s doing.

I immediately march out of my room, not even giving a shit about the two men guarding my door. “Hey, where you going?”

“Lock,” I bark back, not looking back as I go to the back of the ship. To the place I last saw him.

When I enter the room, a bunch of people surround him. One of them is monitoring his health, and the other is taking measurements and whatnot. I don’t know what they’re doing, but it’s not making him better.

The moment they spot me, they stop and stand.

“Juliet, you’re awake,” the captain says.

“Yes. How is he?” I ask.

“Better than yesterday, but he’s not out of the woods yet.”

I swallow and nod. “Can I …?”

“Of course,” he says, and he beckons the rest of his crew to depart the room.

Before they all leave, he says, “We’ll dock in an hour or so, so prepare yourself. I’ve already called for an ambulance, which should take you both to a hospital. The medics will take over from there.”

“Thank you,” I say, smiling even though it’s forced.

He closes the door and leaves me alone with Lock.

I go to my knees and grab his hand. I squeeze. There’s no response.

I touch his face and caress him gently, but the more I do, the harder he begins to breathe, so I stop.

Bandages cover his whole waist—some just redone, some soaked in blood. The bite wound on his shoulder looks painful … horribly painful. And he’s so damn cold. I wonder if he’ll make it out alive.

Tears well up in my eyes.

“Keep fighting, Lock,” I say. “Don’t you dare give up now. I forgive you for being an asshole; now stay here and fight. Fight for me. Fight for us.”

I lay my head down on his chest, tears cascading down onto his chest.

They say you don’t know how much you need someone until they’re gone.

Right now, I need him more than ever. He has to come back.

And I whisper the words I wish I had said before. Before my whole world came crashing down.

“I love you.”

* * *

Juliet

When we arrive, we’re immediately picked up by an ambulance that takes us both to the hospital. At the entrance, a bunch of reporters have gathered, and they shower me with questions about what happened to the research team, the crash, the island … and the secret inhabitant. I don’t answer any of their questions. I don’t even know how they found out, but I guess when something is shocking, the news travels like wildfire.

I just want them to be gone. I have no intentions of ever appearing on the news. Ever. I just want to be left alone … All I care about is Lock.

We’re separated when we’re inside the hospital, but Lock’s in good hands.

In my own room, I’m checked by various doctors and put on medication. They do a test, and I ask them if I’m pregnant … the answer is no.

I’m not sure if I should be elated.

All this time, the thought of being pregnant loomed in the back of my head.

But now that worry has evaporated … replaced by a different kind of fear.

The bed is warm and cozy, but I can’t stop thinking about Lock and how he’s doing. I hope they can help him.

They’re probably already disinfecting and suturing his wounds, maybe even putting him under for surgery. Who knows.

They won’t tell me anything. They’re keeping things under tight wraps, and I don’t like it one bit.

What if they’re trying to keep us separated so they can report us to the authorities? Or more importantly … him? He’s done some questionable things in his life. Someone out there is probably looking for him. The mother of that little girl, for example.

If only people knew the real story. The real man behind the rough exterior. That man has suffered enough.

What he did was wrong, but a man like that can’t be put in jail. It would break him. He’s a free spirit who doesn’t understand our world. I just hope they’ll understand. And I hope I can talk to him, the staff, and everyone else who wants to know about him before they report him to the police.

Or maybe they’re keeping me away from him, so I can recover without worrying. What if he’s already past saving? Already dying as we speak?

And I’m not even there to hold his hand.

My whole body begins to shake, and I quickly grasp the glass of water on my bed stand and gulp it down. I continue staring out the window, wishing I knew more.

I already told the police and the doctors everything they wanted to know. I told them about the island, how I crashed there, how we survived … and about the tiger that attacked Lock.

They even said they would send a search party to the island to find the bodies at the helicopter and bring them back home. I still shudder to think that I left them there.

But at least I survived … that has to count for something, right?

At least now I’ll be able to go home.

Finally.

But then why am I still not happy?

Someone knocks on my door, and I’m pulled from my thoughts. It’s Mom, and moments later, my dad also appears.

I smile as they come in, and my mom hugs me tight.

“Oh, Jules … we were so worried about you.” She starts to cry and so do I.

Even my dad when he comes closer for a hug lets out a few tears. “Jules,” he mumbles, practically unable to utter more words.

“It’s okay … Mom, Dad.” I look at them and swipe away a tear on my cheek. “I’m okay now. I’m okay.”

They nod and sit down beside my bed. My mom holds my hand, refusing to let go.

“When your company back at home called us to tell us they’d lost contact with your team, we were so scared,” Mom says, hiccupping.

“I was too,” I say, sitting up straight in the bed. “I saw them … I saw … They’re all dead.” I sniff, barely able to keep it inside.

“That’s horrible,” Dad says.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, sweetie,” Mom says, hugging me again. “It must’ve been tough to live there all on your own.”

I shake my head. “But I wasn’t on my own.”

They both frown. “What do you mean?”

“Well …” A blush spreads on my cheeks. “There was a man. He found me and took care of me.”

“A man?” Now, Mom looks even more confused.

“He lived there,” I say. “Like … on the island.”

“I thought that place was untouched by humans? That’s why you went there for research, right?” Dad asks.

“Yeah, that’s what we thought too, and there he was,” I mumble. “Lock.”

“Lock? What a strange name,” Dad says, licking his lips. “And he was just there?”

“Well, the story is complicated,” I answer, swallowing.

I’m not sure I should tell them what happened. The reason we crashed … what if they take it the wrong way? I don’t want them to hate Lock.

I already gave him enough of that, made him feel more guilt than ever, and I don’t want that anymore. I want us to have a clean slate … if he even survives this.

“It doesn’t matter. We crashed. He helped me.”

“But why did it take him so long to get you help from outside then? You know, get off the island?” Mom asks.

“Because I … didn’t want to leave,” I lie, looking away because I can’t look them in the eyes while doing so. It’s hard, but I don’t want to give them any bad ideas.

Lock is a good guy.

He really is.

Mom releases my hand and places it on her chest, like she always does when she’s offended. It’s okay. I can take her pain.

“I’m sorry, Mom,” I say, cocking my head. “I just … We …” My whole face turns red. “We fell in love.”

My dad’s eyes widen. “Love?” He begins to laugh. “With a stranger you met on an island?”

“Well, yeah,” I say, running my fingers through my hair. “I actually did.”

“But you never … I mean, you always told me you weren’t interested in men,” Mom says, clearing her throat.

“I am, Mom. Just not the ones from back home,” I say, shrugging. “Lock stole my heart. Nothing else to it.”

Dad’s still laughing. “Well, I can’t wait to meet this guy then. Where is he? Or did you leave him on the island?”

“He’s here in the hospital. They’re treating him for his wounds.”

Mom frowns. “Wounds?”

“He was attacked by a tiger.”

“Tiger?!” Now her voice is definitely raised.

“It’s okay, Mom. We’re alive. I think …” I mumble.

“It’s not okay! You could’ve died!” she says. “And you wanted to stay? There?” She shakes her head again.

“The tiger’s probably dead by now,” I say, remembering how brave Lock was when he shoved that spear into its torso.

“That doesn’t make me feel any better,” Mom says.

“Well, I’m glad you’re safe now.” Dad places a hand on my leg and squeezes a little. “And you can tell us everything once you’re ready. No rush. Let’s focus on getting you home first.”

“Thanks, Dad,” I say, smiling. “I do want you to meet him, of course. If you want to.”

“When?” Mom asks, which makes me chuckle.

“I don’t know. I just hope they save him. So soon, I guess,” I say.

Mom smiles, and she gets up to kiss me on the cheeks. “I’m sorry, sweetie. But I’m glad you’re back, and that you’re well. Now let’s all pray for a quick recovery together.”

She’s right.

All we can do at this point is pray and hope …

Hope he’ll fight for his survival.

And maybe then, I’ll get to see him on the other side.