Alana's pov
Days turned into weeks, and despite the professor's efforts, Kael's condition remained precarious. He needed to return to the ocean to regain his strength, and we both knew it. The thought of losing him was unbearable, yet the reality loomed over us like a storm cloud.
One evening, under a dusky sky, we sat together on the beach, the sound of the waves crashing soothing yet haunting. Kael took my hand, his touch warm and familiar. "Alana, I have to go back," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I know," I replied, fighting back tears. "But three months? What if you can't come back?"
"I have to try," he insisted, his gaze unwavering. "It's the only way I can survive. I need to regain my energy, and I'll come back to you as soon as I can."
The weight of his words settled heavily between us. I nodded, knowing this was what he needed, but the thought of being apart for so long felt like a knife to my heart.
The night before he was to leave, we spent every moment wrapped in each other's arms, exchanging whispered promises and stolen kisses. It was a bittersweet farewell, one filled with love but tainted by the uncertainty of what lay ahead.
As the first light of dawn broke, I watched him walk toward the water, my heart shattering with each step he took. Kael turned back to look at me one last time, his eyes filled with a mix of hope and sorrow. "I'll come back for you, Alana. I promise."
And then he disappeared beneath the waves, leaving me standing on the shore, the ache of his absence consuming me. I spent the next three months counting the days, each one dragging painfully by. I focused on work and tried to distract myself, but everywhere I went, memories of him flooded my mind.
I missed the sound of his laughter, the warmth of his hand in mine, and the way he looked at me as if I were the only thing that mattered. The beach felt emptier without him, and my heart ached with longing.