4. The Search is Over

Elven wakes up when he realises someone is staring at him. His eyes transfixed to someone who's sitting on the side of the bed. His mother, Leona Sanford.

" Are you feeling well, son? "

She asks and she sounds more like a concerned parent than anything else. He blinks twice and takes a deep breath in and out.

" We quickly went here when we heard about what happened, dear. "

She said and turned to look at his first older sister, Eliana who was standing on the other side of the bed. Elven doesn't realise she's there.

" You must be so devastated. "

Elven heave a deep sigh. What he is feeling right now is unfathomable. He can't even distinguish which pain he's trying to endure more. If it's the seething pain of his head injury or it is the longing for his family.

" Son, you need to go to a much bigger hos-"

"No."

Leona was cut mid-sentence by a dead straight no from Elven.

" Stop being so stubborn! You being here wouldn't make a difference! They must be dead somewhere already! "

Eliana shot at him without much of a consideration regarding his feelings.

" Shut the f*ck up! "

Elven shouted back.

He didn't care if it made him sound rude but he didn't have much patience left anymore. He felt as if everything was crumbling down around him.

" I'm sick of listening to your shit!"

Elven continued with a snarky tone. Elven didn't expect her to say something like that. Her words were aimed directly at him and her voice wasn't laced with anger or annoyance, they just sounded cold and detached like she couldn't care less whether he gets mad at her.

He feels hot and angry.

" If you came here just to tell me that, suck it all up and get lost. "

Eliana rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. Not feeling sorry at all.

" Son, I know how you feel. But you need to think of yourself, too. What if your head injury worsens? "

" I don't care. "

" Son, please. Your family wouldn't like you to be miserable. "

Elven shakes his head.

" I'm not going anywhere until I find my wife and daughter. And that's final. "

He got out of the bed, washed up in the bathroom and headed outside. He saw Josh Lambert outside. Agitated.

" Let's get out of here. "

" About that sir. A report came out around midnight. "

Elven immediately stopped walking and turned his questioning gaze at Josh upon hearing about an alleged report. He could see how Josh hesitated to speak more.

" Is it about my family? Where are they? Did they find them? Are they okay? Tell me! "

Josh looked worried and hesitant to respond.

" Sir, we're not sure yet. "

Elven frowned and took a step closer. The concern he felt towards his family grew deeper.

Leona and Eliana came around to know what the commotion was about.

" Sir, I think you need to check for yourself. They're here in the hospital. "

Elven stared at Josh, wide eyed. His heart starts thumping against his chest faster than ever.

" Really?...I mean...where exactly are they? Can you bring me to them? "

Josh just nodded and started walking. Elven follows him, Leona and her daughter too. They stopped in front of a room where a few coast guards officials and police were standing outside. And there's two familiar faces Elven recognized, Sylvia and Angelique Vernon. Belle's mother and younger sister. Their eyes were red.

" Morgue?! "

Eliana read the sign outside the door with shocked and widened eyes. Leona covered her mouth in disbelief. Elven tries to swallow. He can feel a lump on his throat. He can hear his heartbeat going crazy. The seething pain on his head suddenly numbs his entire body. Elven's eyes start to water and he can feel his knees getting wobbly.

He can barely hold himself up but he has to do it. He's a strong man. He needs to be strong. Josh stands besides him and Elven holds on to Josh's shoulder for support. One of the coast guards slowly walks in front of them with a clear plastic bag with clothes inside.

" Wait. Why are we here? What are those ? "

He whispered and turned his eyes away from everyone. He looked up, forcing his tears not to fall. He knows exactly what's happening. He just doesn't want to believe it.

" Around midnight, we received a call from a fisherman from the island, the ship's supposed destination. He saw someone on the rocky part of the shore. When he came to inspect, he saw a woman wearing a life vest… with a child on her chest. "

Elven tears fall. His grip on Josh's shoulder tightens and his other hand clenches and starts to hammer his own chest. He felt suffocated. Josh Lambert looks sideways and bows his head. He can't look at Elven.

" These are the clothes they're wearing. We found your wife's identification card but if you can identify them despite…"

The officer feels sorry. This is the hardest part of their job. To deliver heartbreaking news to the bereaved family. They can't get used to it. They will never be used to it.

" As I told you earlier, they were found on the rocky part of the shore. Because of that and being on the water for too long.. it is really hard to identify them. Their faces are beyond recognition… we're sorry, sir. "

He gives the clear plastic bag to Elven. His eyes still can't believe seeing his wife's jacket and ID and his daughter's clothes.

" Oh my. Those are Belle's jacket and the clothes that I gave to Yuffa. "

Leona says after she sees the content of the clear plastic bag. There's no doubt about it. Elven was brought to his knees. He can't take it anymore. He doesn't want to believe what was happening but there's no use for denying.

Eliana walks toward the door of the morgue and opens it.

" Go and identify them if you can. "

" Stop it Eliana! Can't you see your brother's suffering? He's already dying inside! Do you want him to lose his sanity? You're asking for too much! "

She's taken aback. She thought Leona would support her more. After all, they don't like his brother's wife.

" Eliana, please stop making your brother suffer more. He's hurting enough as it is. We should respect him and her family. "

Leona whispered while holding onto Eliana's arm. Eliana looks at Leona and then turns to Elven and Belle's family who's sobbing quietly.

Elven can't hear anything. Everything around him seems to stop as if the world has stood still. His mind can't process any of these. Tears won't stop. He wanted to shout so loud but he couldn't find his voice. The pain is unbearable. He just hugs his family's belongings and cries to his heart's content.

The search is over. But it ends his will to live too.