Chapter 22: Illuminated

“Have fun!” Corey shouts from the boat, he and Katie’s arms flailing around like crazy as they stand side by side. “AND DON’T GET EATEN… OR KILLED!!” Jordan adds, her sloshy laughter echoing as we propel forward. With the night quickly approaching and the lurking threat of sharks, I don’t blame them for not wanting to explore an unknown, potentially dangerous cavern. “You ready?” Chase asks, his smile wide and infectious as we glide over the darkening water. The waves are surprisingly calm as we drift toward the cove, the menacing structure looming larger with every passing moment. It didn’t seem so intimidating during the day, but now that the sun has set, I’m starting to have second thoughts. As if sensing my apprehension, Chase turns to me with a reassuring smirk. “I’ve been here plenty of times at this hour,” he says, “and I promise I would never put you in harm's way.” I nod, exhaling the breath I’ve been obviously holding as we trek across the lucid sea to our destination.

Chase helps me out of his oversized emergency raft, then carefully pulls it from the water and secures it with ropes to ensure it won’t drift away while we explore. He rummages through the backpack he brought with us and pulls out a powerful flashlight, turning it on and sweeping its beam across the interior of the cove. A smirk crosses his face before he says, “ it’s low tide, so we have plenty of time Lena.” I must still look nervous. He walks ahead of me, guiding me along the sand, stopping periodically to gently move me as needed to avoid any rocks that might trip me up. As we step into the heart of the cove, the world around us feels instantly hushed. The cliffs rise steeply on either side, their rocky faces smoothed by the passage of time and water; and although the environment is damp, the air is thick with the rich scent of salt. I glance back at the waves gently ebbing and flowing against the shore, their rhythmic melody playing a soothing tune of relaxation as little crabs scurry past in search of their nightly meals. I take a deep breath, letting the fresh sea air fill my lungs, and a smile spreads across my face as I take in the beauty around me. The cove feels like a secret haven, and I feel as if I am a part of an elaborate dream. Lush moss covers the stone walls around us, the greens, grays, and browns more vibrant under the beam of the flashlight. Shadows dance as he scans the area, making the cove feel more alive despite only us on the premises.

“Come with me,” Chase says, extending his hand toward me. “There’s so much more to see.” I don’t hesitate to take his hand, but I start to regret my choice when he leads me to a passage between the rocks. “Do you know what you’re doing?” I ask, a hint of uncertainty in my voice as I examine the tiny space. “It’s a little late for those kinds of questions, don’t you think?” he replies with a playful grin. “Come on Lena, you can trust me.” We squeeze through the opening and tread slightly upward, as if rock climbing the side of a mountain at a steady pace. While the cavity is tight, it’s manageable for my smaller frame; meanwhile, it seems that Chase’s larger, muscular build keeps getting caught on the edges. I can’t help but giggle softly as he carefully maneuvers the narrow passage, his size a hilarious disadvantage in this cramped space. “You better hope we don’t get stuck on my account,” he chuckles and I push his arm gently. “Not funny!” I yelp, while his head leans back with a soft ‘hmph’ that echoes on the rocky walls. Despite the tight surroundings, he never lets go of my hand, pausing every few steps to ensure the ground is solid beneath my feet. It feels as though we are making our way into an alternate reality, a black hole broken only by the beam of light from Chase's flashlight, guiding us deeper into the hidden passage.

“Stop here,” he says, abruptly halting to face me. “And close your eyes.”My head shifts backwards slightly, surprised by his request. “What?” I say shakily, my voice laced with hesitation. He rests his hands gently over my eyes before positioning himself behind me. “Walk forward slowly. I’ll make sure you don’t fall.” A surge of nervousness knots in my stomach, and I start to realize how hastily I decided to come here. What if this is where he does something terrible, like I don’t know, murder me? What if he returns to the boat and puts my friends in danger too? Why didn’t I think this through?! He stops me, and for a moment, I brace myself, expecting to be pushed over the edge of a cliff and knocked on the side of the head with one of these heavy rocks. “Okay, open your eyes,” he says softly. My eyelids flutter open but I only see darkness. The rising moon vaguely shines through cracks from above, but not nearly enough to make out what I'm looking at. “What is this, Chase?” I ask, my voice echoing as I turn my head to face him, his face aglow from the flashlight’s reflection on the cave walls. “Here,” he says, leading me to a small pool of water in front of us. “Dip your toe in.” Droplets of water dripping from the stone above resonate around us as I give him a puzzled look. “What?” I say sharply, unsure of where this is going. He chuckles, “trust me.” I shoot him a hesitant glance before slipping off my flip flop, slowly reaching out my toe, and poking the water.

In an instant, the ripples glow bright blue and turquoise, spreading across the water; the bioluminescence sparkling like paint spilling onto a blank canvas. I gasp before bending down to rattle the water more, the glow intensifying, swirling around my hand as if I am experimenting with water colors. I laugh softly, mesmerized by the way the water lights up to my touch. “How did you know this was here?” I ask as he squats next to me. “My sister and I found it during one of our explorations of the cove as kids. I'm glad it’s still the same, or else you would have been wildly disappointed.” Impossible! He wasn’t exaggerating when he said this cove held treasures but to bring me here, to show me this... “Watch this,” he says with a wide grin before shouting: ‘hey!’ When he does, the entire ceiling surrounding us bursts into a galaxy of tiny sparkles, reflecting on the water as it illuminates even brighter. I don’t think my brain can process quickly enough the bewilderment of standing in the center of our very own utopia.

“Chase… This is like a dream. I don't even know what to say,” I breathe, unable to hide the giant grin on my face. “Then don't say anything…” he whispers while he stands and steps toward me. He lifts me to my feet before cupping my chin with his palms. I stare into his sparkling green eyes with wonder as they dance and flicker back at mine. He leans my head back and moves in, pressing his full lips to mine delicately. For the second time today, I release control, let go of my inhibitions, and allow his kiss to consume me completely. His tongue enters my mouth, swirling together as the photoluminescence slowly starts to fade. I’m entirely lost in this moment with him, in the magic that surrounds us, in the unexpected direction this vacation has taken. I gently nibble at his lip, and a quiet moan releases from his lips as he pulls me closer, his hands moving to my lower back. He presses his forehead against mine before he moves his face away, searching my eyes for a moment, his firm hands resting gently on my hips. “It’s only been two days but it feels like I’ve been waiting for you my whole life Lena.”

“Oh, wait here a moment,” he says before he returns to his backpack, revealing two water bottles and a blanket. I take a minute to compose myself as he lays it along next to the small pool of water before taking a seat, and patting the open spot next to him. I sit with my legs outstretched, my feet just touching the water so I can tap to keep the light glowing. He opens a water bottle and hands it to me, and I take a sip. “Thank you for sharing this with me, Chase.” I say bashfully, avoiding his gaze. I'm not sure how to respond to what he said, but I feel like he is what I've been waiting for too. He takes a sip of his own water bottle before turning to me with a smirk, and says “you’re welcome Lena.” A pang of unease hits me as I remember the reason for this trip, my wedding. As I exhale a deep breath, I take in his side profile as it glows majestically in the light. His eyes look so peaceful as we sit quietly together, taking in the beauty around us.