Page 87 of Wild Life

“Want to come wish me farewell?”

He grunted, and we set off together. The coast would be clear this time of day. I had made a mental note of the scientists’ daily schedule, and this was when they were by the pond.

We reached the beach in no time, and just as I had thought, no one was around the boat.

There had been two boats when the leader of the scientists had been here. But he had taken one of them to return to his university—to return to Maris.

He had caught me lurking around them one day. I had just figured out how to turn the damn thing on when he’d suddenly appeared from nowhere and asked me what I was doing. I hadn’t responded and instead stormed off. He was a nosy jerk, and I couldn’t make a move without him stalking me.

Fortunately, he was out of the picture, and I could set my plan in motion. Well, I didn’t have much more thought out than stealing the boat. I figured I could sail until I found land and then ask to be taken to wherever it was that Maris lived.

I crouched to the ground, eye level with Poaka. “Be a good boy. I’ll be back very soon.”

He let out a whine.

“I know. You’re not used to being left behind, since you’re in the habit of leaving me. I swear, I’ll be back before you know it, just like when you disappear.”

Poaka grunted when I rubbed his fur. I had to do this. It was the only way to salvage our family.

I boarded the boat, swaying with it as it rocked on the waves. I tucked the salted fish beneath the seat and set to turning on the engine. I had no idea what all the other controls did, but I would soon figure it out.

I closed my eyes, inhaling the fresh scent of my home for a final time. I was already homesick for my hut.I need to leave. This is the only way to get Maris back.

Suddenly, a buzzing sounded in the distance. I looked up to see another boat sailing to shore, this new one with tinted windows I couldn’t see inside.

Fuck.The scientist leader had come back to check up on me again. I had thought he’d left for good.

The boat stopped, and I prepared for another inquisition.

“Going somewhere, sailor?”

My heart seized in my chest. My ears were playing tricks on me. I had heard her voice many times before, and each time, it had been my imagination. But…this time had sounded different. More real.

I couldn’t believe my sight when she hopped into the water and peered up at me. She shined like an angel, or some other worldly being in a green dress, like she had been born amongst the trees.

Poaka jetted up to her, splashing through the water that he hated very much, and she ran to greet him, her brown hair falling delicately over his fur.

I jumped down from the boat. “Maris?” I was unable to shake the disbelief.

“You remembered my name,” she joked, twisting her fingers as she always did when she was nervous. The redness on her face from the days of constant sunshine had disappeared, and her lean physique had softened slightly, giving her more noticeable curves. She had been beautiful before, but now she had a magnificent glow about her.

I approached her slowly, afraid she’d vanish as soon as I reached her. I wanted whatever this was to stay—this mirage, this dream—for as long as possible.

I reached my hand out, yet didn’t touch her, worried it would break the spell.

She took my hand in hers and pressed it to her cheek. I soaked in her warmth. “This is real.”

Her eyes glistened with tears. “It is.”

Mine grew wet, too. “You came back.”

She pressed a kiss to my palm. “I would never break a promise to you.”

“You didn’t stay with Eli?”

“Eli who?” She smiled. “There’s no one but you.”

I hugged her tightly, and she wrapped her arms around me and dug her fingers into my skin. It was as if we had been away from each other for a lifetime, but my heart mended immediately as I pressed her to it.

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