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The feeling of the wet sand enveloping his bare feet and the soft sway of the rising tide around his ankles as he walked was enough to throw Nick to the verge of tears. Only days before, he had been at that same spot, holding her hand, kissing her cheeks and lips, holding her close, smelling her delicate and unique scent...and it was now all gone. Why had he let her go? He knew it was dangerous, he wanted to go with, he just wanted her. How could he have been so stupid as to let her go out into the ocean with only two other members of her unit to look for a lost body. Why hadn't he begged harder for her to let him come with...he knew a coast guard could handle the situation, but he didn't want to let her go...he must've known something was wrong. She never knew that someone had tampered with her oxygen tank before she dove in, thinking it fairly safe to scuba dive in the same waters she explored with Nick only a few weeks prior.

The day after, when the messenger came, was still as vivid in Nick's mind as the moment it happened. All he said was I'm sorry as he handed Nick a piece of paper. With trembling hands, Nick took it and read the blurred words. For the first time in his adult life, he broke down and cried...he cried for hours, sitting on the floor in the middle of their house, crying out her name as if it could bring her back, the tears streaming down his face in agony, the paper getting soggy, its words running together. That was how his best friend, Brian found him, a dishelveled heap on the floor, bawling like a child, babbling about how much he loved her, threatening his own life.

Nick recollected the day and sighed, wishing he had spared the pain of losing his one true love...his wife...but he had to go on. He had to keep the memories of her alive, her beauty, her caring, her devotion to not only her job but him, the way she could brighten his day with just one small smile, how she could make even his largest problem melt like butter with her soft words. The tears returned as he could see her face, two soft eyes dancing with laughter, her smile just inches from his own lips. He could remember their wedding day, how beautiful she looked in white, the roses in her hair matching those strewn throughout the out door pavillion and makeshift aisle. He remembered the soft and shy way she practically whispered the promise to remain with him until death do us part.

He dropped to his knees in the sand and glared out at the ocean, his arms spread, and began to scream. "Why, God dammit?! Why? What did I ever do to you? What have I ever taken?! I loved her you bastard! I loved her! Now I have nothing and you have all I ever had! I hate you! I hate you! Dear God, spare me now! Take my life and return me to my love! Give me back my sweet angel!" He then collapsed onto the sand in a sobbing heap as a warm breeze began to blow. He opened his eyes to find two bare feet peaking out from beneath a waterfall of white satin. His eyes traveled up to the smooth curve of her hips, the indention of her small waist, the roundness of her breasts, the falling waves of her hair, her face seeming to radiate from an unknown light source. His throat closed as he saw her standing before him. "My angel..." he choked out a whispered as she kneeled beside him, brushing some of the fallen locks of golden hair off his forehead.

"Hush, my love..." she whispered back, her gaze carressing his face as softly as her hands used to.

"But..." he started, but was silenced by her lips. She gently kissed him with a kiss of true love. Soft yet powerful, creating a spark of fire at his lips that enflamed his whole body. Even when her lips left his, he still could feel a tingling where they once had been.

"I have so little time...I just had to see you one last time. To touch you, kiss you, let you love me...the way that I love you..." she whispered, the tears forming in her eyes, barely balancing on her lower eyelids. "Just promise that you with survive without me...Remember me...Don't ever stop loving me. But don't forget how to love. I am no longer able to be with you...find love. It may be hard...but take the time to find someone to care for you as I have. Do not be lonely for the rest of your life only because I am not there...Just don't forget me..." The tears lost their delicate balance and began to fall down her soft cheeks. "I love you Nickolas...I always will...I promise to watch over you," she whispered before pressing her lips to his.

She suddenly was gone. He couldn't believe it had just happened, but he thought about her words. How could he ever love anyone as he had her. How could anyone care about as she had. The only one close enough to care about his safety was his family and Brian...how could they ever heal his loss and heartache. Friends and family are no comparison to love...and that made everything harder. "I love you..." he whispered into the night air to the direction she had last been. He couldn't tell if he was going insane or if it was just coincidence that it sounded as if the breeze replied with, "I know..."