Ocean Water

He stared at the ocean.

He'd been sitting here for hours, and it felt like it had been decades. Everything felt much longer when he was waiting.

He watched the waves lap at the sand. The waves reaching out for the sand, trying to hold on to it, only to fall away, back into the ocean.

He felt sorry for the water.

"I'm trying to hold on, too," he found himself saying. "I'm falling away. I'm falling away from my lover.  I've been waiting so long, and she's not here. I can't find her."

"She's the love of my life," he said. "She accepted me, despite my flaws. Despite knowing of my mental condition. She's been with me for decades, and I love her with all my heart. She's my true love. I live for her. And I'd die for her."

The waves didn't respond. He took in the salty ocean air, sitting atop that giant rock, where he'd been sitting for ages.

Where they'd had their first kiss, decades ago.

Someone ran up to him. "Chase!"

He turned, to see an old woman. Her hair was grey, streaked with white. Her eyes were kind. He didn't recognise her, but he decided to ask anyway.

"Hello," he said. "Have you seen her?"

The stranger gave him a quizzical look. "Who?"

"My wife. Her name's Maria. She's the love of my life, and she's gone," he explained. "I can't find her. Have you seen her?" There were tears in his eyes.

The woman gazed at him, looking sad. "I..." She seemed at a loss for words. 

She took his hand and helped him up from the rock. "No, I haven't. I'm sorry. Come on, I'll take you home."

His tears shone in his eyes. "Do you think she doesn't love me anymore? Is that why she didn't come back for me?"

The woman shook her head, seemingly choking down a sob. "No. I... I'm sure she still loves you. She loves you more than anything else in the world, and you're everything to her."

He relaxed, and smiled. "Thanks." Then, he looked at her. "I'm sorry, but who are you? Do I know you?"

The old woman trembled. "I'm... I mean... You... You used to."

He didn't understand, but he didn't ask further. The stranger held his hand and began leading him home.

And as she held his hand and led him home, Maria cried.