Rebirth Into My Second Chance

Hand in hand, we strolled along the beach, the vastness of waves crashing against the shore and the salty sea breeze brushing against our faces enveloping us in its embrace. "Max, can you swim?" Before he could even respond, I playfully pushed him into the ocean.

But in that moment he fell, he grabbed my hand, pulling me into the waves with him.

I couldn't swim, struggling and swallowing mouthfuls of seawater until he pulled me up, "Trying to play tricks on me?"

I shook my head, it was just a jest.

"Wanna try surfing?" Max suggested just as Helen came running over with a surfboard in hand.

"I can't," I replied, touching the salty residue on my face. But as I stood there with my feet soaked in the seawater, it felt like all the pressure in my heart was washing away. "Surfing's an adrenaline rush, one way I de-stress. I'll teach you."

Saying so, he led me into the sea, and onto the surfboard. Clinging onto him in fear initially, I soon realized he had everything under control.

The bigger the wave, the more thrilling the ride.

From fear to joy, riding with and against the waves, it was an experience of letting go and freeing one's mind.

"Got the hang of it?"

I shook my head. "No, I can't swim. I'm too scared to do it on my own."

"Guess my next mission is to teach you how to swim, huh?"

I agreed with a smile, though I knew how to swim. I remembered wanting to help during a flood, but the overwhelming waters had me too scared to act. I was always timid.

Yet, Max didn't call me out on it, saying he'd teach me to swim was probably his way of teaching me bravery.

Around him, I always discovered new facets of myself, learning to grow.

To embody love, to heal without prejudice, to embrace courage, to believe in my best self, and to shed my insecurities.

"Max, thank you."

We stood in the sea, embracing each other, reveling in a moment of pure joy.

"Claire, I thank you too. Tracey was right, I do have Asperger's

syndrome, but everything got better after meeting you. I forced myself to learn how to communicate, to handle various social interactions. I figured the only way I could get you out of the orphanage was by becoming stronger. But by the time I was ready, the orphanage had changed, and you had vanished. When I found you again, your eyes were full of Claude, and I was so jealous. But I was willing to support your happiness..."

Leveraging the buoyancy of the seawater, I tiptoed, pulling his face closer and kissed him, my first initiative.

He was my band-aid.

And I was his gauze.

We were to heal and save each other.

With the saltiness of the sea and the sweetness of our bond, we indulged freely in the ocean.

Exhausted, I barely remembered how Max carried me ashore, only to wake up in dry clothes, lying quietly in the grand Hilton family mansion. Opening my eyes, my mind was set on becoming a better version of myself.

Closing them, my thoughts

wandered to the homeless elders in Elmwood Springs, their lost homes, and the medical conditions of those far in the mountains.

Was it time to explore more challenging heart conditions?

Once things settled with the Hilton family elders, I'd share my plans with Max, hoping to support the mountain regions for a while. He'd agree, right?

No, he wouldn't, not with the baby on

the way. The thought alone was

'ne

enough to make my head reel, and I

re we might have to delay our

plans.

AUM

"Lost in thought? You were so into it, you didn't even see me come in." Max's voice pulled me back from my reverie.