Her lost love

Zinnia slowly opened her eyes, feeling a dull ache in her body as she regained consciousness. The beeping of machines and the sterile smell of the hospital room filled her senses. She blinked a few times, trying to remember what had happened. The last thing she recalled was being on the yacht with James.

Before she could gather her thoughts, the door to her room creaked open. The yacht crew entered their faces a mix of relief and sorrow, followed by the doctor and a nurse. Zinnia immediately sensed something was wrong.

"Miss Zinnia, it's good to see you awake," the doctor said gently. "How are you feeling?"

Zinnia's voice came out hoarse. "Where… where's James?"

The crew exchanged glances, their expressions grim. The captain, the same one who had greeted them so warmly on the yacht, stepped forward. "Miss Zinnia, we need to tell you something… something difficult."

Her heart pounded in her chest. "What happened? Where is James?"

The captain took a deep breath. "There was a tsunami… It came out of nowhere, catching everyone off guard. We were all thrown into the water when the wave hit. The good news is… most of us survived, including you."

Zinnia's eyes widened in fear. "Most of us? What do you mean?"

The captain's voice trembled slightly. "We've been searching for everyone since the disaster… but there's one person still missing. The rescue teams are still looking for him."

Zinnia felt a cold dread settle in her chest. "No… No, it can't be…"

The captain's eyes filled with sorrow. "It's James, Miss Zinnia. We haven't found him yet."

Zinnia's world shattered in an instant. Her heart seemed to stop, and she struggled to breathe. "No… This can't be happening. I need to find him! I need to go now!" She tried to sit up, but the sharp pain in her body forced her back down.

The doctor quickly intervened, placing a calming hand on her shoulder. "Miss Zinnia, you need to rest. Your body is still recovering. They are doing everything they can to find James."

Tears welled up in Zinnia's eyes as she fought against the reality of what she was hearing. "I can't just stay here! He needs me… I need him…"

The nurse stepped forward, her voice soothing. "Please, you need to take care of yourself first. The rescue teams are working tirelessly. The best thing you can do now is to heal."

Zinnia's tears spilled over, and she covered her face with her hands. "But what if they don't find him? What if… what if he's gone?" Her voice cracked with despair.

The captain knelt beside her bed, his expression earnest. "We're not giving up. We'll keep looking until we find him. But for now, you have to stay strong. James wouldn't want you to risk your health."

Zinnia nodded weakly, but the pain in her heart was unbearable. She was left with no choice but to lie back, her body trembling with the effort of holding back sobs. The room fell silent, save for the sound of her quiet, heartbreaking cries. She was consumed by the fear of losing James forever.

Three months had passed since James Lucas went missing, and Zinnia's hope had begun to fade. The search and rescue teams had scoured the ocean, but there was no sign of him. Finally, they told her the worst news she could imagine—the search was over. They had concluded that James was likely dead, lost to the depths of the sea.

Zinnia sat in her small apartment, feeling as if her world had stopped. She stared at the wall, the weight of the news pressing down on her. James was gone. The future she had dreamed of, with him by her side, was now a distant memory.

She picked up a photo of them together. They were smiling, their eyes full of joy and love. Zinnia's fingers shook as she traced his face in the picture. "James," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Why did this have to happen?"

Tears began to fall freely. The world felt like it had come to a halt the moment they told her James wasn't coming back. The future she dreamed of, full of happiness and love, was now nothing but a cruel dream. She felt like her heart had stopped beating.

Each day was a struggle. She was alive, but it felt like a part of her was missing. The loss of James was overwhelming, a wound that wouldn't heal. Every night, she cried herself to sleep, praying for a miracle. But deep down, she knew it was unlikely.

One evening, her friend Lily came over, hoping to offer comfort. They sat together in the dimly lit living room.

Lily was part of the search and rescue team, working on that side job during her school vacation. Zinnia had met her while searching for James. They were the same age and had both enrolled in painting classes at college.

Their shared interest in art had brought them closer together, and Lily had become a comforting friend during those agonizing days of the search. She understood Zinnia's pain in a way no one else could, having been deeply involved in the search efforts.

"Zinnia," Lily said softly, "you need to try to move on. I know it's hard, but James wouldn't want you to be stuck like this."

Zinnia shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "How can I move on? How can I just pretend he's gone when I still feel like he's out there? I can't just forget him."

"I'm not saying you should forget him," Lily said, taking Zinnia's hand. "But you need to find a way to keep going. James would want you to live your life, even if it's hard."

Zinnia's grip tightened on Lily's hand. "It feels like a part of me is still with him. I don't know how to live without him. I don't even know if I want to."

Lily squeezed her hand gently. "I know it's tough. But you're stronger than you think. You can carry James in your heart and still try to live your life."

Zinnia looked at their hands, feeling Lily's support. "I'll try," she said quietly. "But it's so hard."

"I'm here for you," Lily said.

After Lily left, Zinnia sat alone in the quiet apartment. She knew Lily was right; James wouldn't want her to be consumed by grief. But moving on felt impossible.

Each day was a battle. She forced herself to go through the motions—getting up, going to college, and smiling when needed. But the smiles were empty, and inside, she felt broken.

At night, when she was alone, the emptiness was overwhelming. She would cry, holding the photo of James and whispering his name.