ARIA’S POVThe flight is long—11 hours—but I’m determined to make the most of it. As the jet climbs higher, I let go of the tension that’s been gripping me for days. This isn’t just a trip; it’s a chance to unwind and indulge in the kind of luxury I rarely allow myself to enjoy.Once we’re cruising at a comfortable altitude, Ethan hands me a menu, saying with a grin.“Pick whatever you like. The chef is on standby.”I glance at the menu, impressed by the variety. From gourmet dishes to comfort foods, everything looks mouthwatering. After a moment of deliberation, I decide on a selection of fresh sushi, lobster tail, and a side of truffle fries. For dessert, I opt for a decadent chocolate lava cake. Ethan orders a filet mignon and a bottle of fine wine to share.As we wait for our food, I explore the entertainment options. The jet is equipped with everything imaginable. There’s a wide selection of movies, music, and even video games. I’m not much of a gamer, but the idea of losing myse
ARIA’S POVEverything changes in an instant. One moment, I’m lounging in the jet’s plush seat, watching the sun dip below the horizon, and the next, the plane lurches violently to the side, sending my heart racing.The seatbelt light flashes on, and a loud, jarring noise fills the cabin. My glass of wine tips over, spilling crimson liquid across the white tablecloth. I’m too focused on the sudden, terrifying shift in the atmosphere.I grab the armrests, knuckles turning white as I try to steady myself against the turbulence. The plane drops suddenly, like a rollercoaster plunging down its steepest hill, and my stomach flips. The lights flicker ominously, and I hear the unmistakable sounds of panic from the cabin crew. Ethan is beside me, his normally calm demeanor replaced with a look of shock and fear.“What’s happening?”I shout over the noise, but before anyone can answer, the pilot’s voice crackles over the intercom.“Ladies and gentlemen, we’re experiencing a severe emergency. Pl
ARIA’S POVThe water is up to my waist now, frigid and heavy, making every movement sluggish, as if the ocean itself is trying to drag me down with it.Finally, I manage to free myself, pushing against the rising tide that threatens to engulf me. The weight of the water presses in from all sides, oppressive and unrelenting. I struggle to find the emergency exit, my lungs burning with the desperate need for air. The jet groans under the pressure, the metal twisting and buckling as it is crushed by the ocean's embrace. The cabin is almost completely submerged now, the last pockets of air rapidly disappearing.With a final, desperate effort, I wrench open the exit door, the ocean rushing in like a predator pouncing on its prey. The cold shocks me, a jolt to my system, but it also fuels my survival instinct. I push out into the open water, leaving the crumbling remains of the jet behind. For a moment, I am disoriented, the vastness of the ocean stretching out endlessly in every direction.
ADAM’S POVThe house feels like a shell without Aria, empty and echoing with memories that no longer bring comfort. The silence is suffocating, a constant reminder of her absence. Each room, once vibrant with her presence, now feels desolate, as if the life has been drained from it. I wander from room to room, restless, but there's no escape from the loneliness that gnaws at me. The desire to go out, to distract myself from this void, nags at me, but every time I consider it, I'm reminded that I only want to go out with Aria. And she’s not here.The hours stretch out endlessly, the boredom almost unbearable. It's the weekend, and the world outside is alive with possibilities, but I can't bring myself to embrace any of them. My thoughts circle back to Aria, the way things used to be, and the realization that it's all gone. The weight of it is heavy, pressing down on me, making it hard to breathe, let alone enjoy anything.Then George and Adrian call, suggesting we go to the bar for a d
ADAM’S POVThe shock of the news reverberates through me, numbing my senses, but one thing is clear; I can’t stay here. The bar, with its noise and indifferent faces, becomes a suffocating cage. I push back my chair and stand, not sparing a glance at George and Adrian. There’s no point in trying to explain anything to them. They don’t care, and even if they did, their words would be nothing but a hindrance, holding me back when all I want is to get out, to do something.They call after me, their voices mingling with the din of the bar, but I’m already halfway to the door. My steps quicken, propelled by an urgency I can’t fully explain, a need to escape before the weight of what I’ve heard crushes me completely. The cool night air hits me like a slap as I push through the door, but it does nothing to calm the storm raging inside me.I don’t think; I just act. My car is parked just outside, and I’m behind the wheel in seconds, the engine roaring to life with a ferocity that mirrors the
ADAM’S POVThe news loops in my mind, the words "crashed" and "no survivors" replaying over and over like a broken record. But, I refuse to accept it. There has to be a chance, some slim possibility that Aria is still out there, waiting to be found.The crash occurred somewhere in the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, where islands dot the endless water. It’s almost impossible to know exactly where, but that doesn’t deter me. I have to try, no matter how difficult the search may be. I immediately begin making arrangements, calling my assistant to set everything in motion.“Do it as soon as possible and make sure that our jet won’t fail us.”“Sure, boss.”My private jet will be ready as soon as possible, and we’ll head out to those islands, combing the area for any sign of the wreckage, of survivors. The logistics are daunting – the ocean is so vast, the islands scattered like tiny dots on an endless blue canvas. But I can’t let that stop me. Aria is out there, and I won’t rest until
ARIA’S POVThe ocean is a vast, unforgiving expanse, stretching endlessly in every direction. The waves rise and fall like living things, their power evident as they surge around me, threatening to pull me under with each crest. My heart pounds in my chest, my limbs burning with exhaustion as I fight to stay afloat, to keep my head above water. Panic claws at my throat, but I force it down, knowing that giving in to fear now will mean certain death.Then, in the distance, I see it—a flash of color against the dark water, a sudden, desperate movement. It’s Ethan. Relief floods through me, a momentary respite from the terror that grips me. He’s alive. But as I watch, that relief turns to horror. He’s struggling, his arms flailing wildly, his head barely breaking the surface as the waves batter him from all sides. He’s drowning.Every instinct in my body screams at me to go to him, to reach out and pull him to safety. But the ocean has other plans. The waves are ruthless, pushing us apar
ARIA’S POVThe feeling of solid ground beneath me is a small comfort, a reprieve from the overwhelming terror of the ocean. I no longer have to fight against the waves, no longer feel the cold, unrelenting water pulling me under. But as I lie there on the beach, the weight of what’s happened crashes over me, and I’m powerless to stop the tears that follow.I cry for everything—the crash, the loss of Ethan, the unknown fate of everyone else who was on that plane. I cry for the terror I felt in the water, for the hopelessness that gnawed at me as I drifted further and further away from the wreckage. But mostly, I cry for the overwhelming loneliness that now engulfs me, stranded on this island, cut off from everything and everyone I’ve ever known.As the tears flow, my thoughts turn to my family. I think of my mother, my father, Neal, Nathan—wondering how they’ll cope with the news. They’ve probably already heard about the crash, and I know they’ll be doing everything in their power to f