The Sea She Sent Me To

I died on my fifth wedding anniversary. My soul hovered over the Southern Sea, watching how sharks devoured my body from head to toe. It was torn apart, while Queenie Dewman and Zach Wood were nearby, leading the rescue squad to a safe spot.

The moment the rescue boat reached them, she pulled Zach aboard without hesitation. As for me, she tossed a lifebuoy into the water. "You can swim back to the shore. Zach can't swim. He'll die if he falls into the sea. You're a rank one seafarer. You can just swim back to the shore. You'll be fine."

Then, with growing irritation, she added, "Have you forgotten your duty? You're really going to let someone else be in danger? You're so selfish."

She had forgotten the truth. After saving her years ago, I developed severe thalassophobia. I could no longer work as a seafarer. When I told her I would die if I were left in the sea, she scoffed. "Then die!"

Queenie led the rescue squad away quickly. Another wave crashed into the ship. It capsized, and I fell into the sea. Seawater filled up my nose, and I could not breathe. My eyes kept looking up, hoping she would come back for me.

When I realized I could not swim back to the shore, I slowly started to feel fear welling from my heart. Alas, in the end, I died in the waters I once loved so deeply.

…

My soul stayed with Queenie after I died. I watched how she begged the doctor to save her first love. The nurse patted her hand. "It's alright. We'll do everything we can to save your husband. You're his wife. You should stay strong."

Queenie wiped her tears away. Her eyes were red and puffy from all the crying. I was right beside her, my heart feeling a slight sense of sorrow. I was her husband. Yet the person she refused to leave was someone else.

The tsunami had struck without warning. Nearly everyone aboard survived because of the rescue effort. I was the only one who didn't make it.

Seeing that Zach had escaped with only minor injuries, Queenie finally relaxed. "Are you alright, Zach?" she nervously asked, even though the doctor had said it was only a slight shock.

"Thank you, Queenie. If you weren't there, I could've…" Zach hung his head low, and his voice trailed off.

"Don't say that! You'll be alright!" She gently covered his mouth before peeling an orange for him, carefully removing every strand of pith.

I could not believe she had this gentle side to her. Watching them, I couldn't help remembering our marriage. I had always peeled fruit for Queenie because she disliked doing it herself. Even then, she often left it untouched.

It wasn't that she couldn't be gentle. She had simply never chosen to be that gentle with me.

Zach asked quietly, "Where's Jonathan? Did they rescue him?"

The mention of my name sparked Queenie's impatience. "Forget about him," she said coldly. "He claimed he couldn't go into the sea anymore. As if I'd believe that. He's a first-rank seafarer."

I did not lie. When she was trapped in the sea, I had to hold my breathing for ten minutes just to pull her back to shore. The doctors later told me that I had come dangerously close to losing my own life. After that, I developed thalassophobia and could no longer work as a seafarer.

Zach wiped the tears off his face and said weakly, "I'm sorry I ruined your trip."

"It's not your fault! It's Jonathan's! You wouldn't have been hurt if he hadn't hesitated!" Queenie's tone was filled with castigation.

Even now she was making it my fault. All Zach got away with was a little shock. Meanwhile, I had lost my life.

A while later, Queenie's colleague asked if all the ship's crew was fine. Everyone replied to the message, save for me.

One of the colleagues knew something was wrong, so they texted Queenie in the group, "Where's Mr. Dutchman? He didn't reply."

Queenie frowned. "Ignore him! Let him play dead if he wants! I'd love to see how long he can drag this out."

She truly believed I was pretending. But in all the years we had been together, I had never once lied to her.