The next day, Helen drove Orion and Penelope to the White Sands Miami Beach hotel. Orion looked out the window, thinking about his dream as well as what his ears picked up. “Something’s calling to me, I can feel it.” Penelope looked over at Orion’s dazed look, but looked out her own window, trying not to believe that this was really ‘fate’.
Once they arrived, Orion smelled the air of the ocean, but it was different than he had ever imagined. Something about the White Sands made the smell somewhat more pleasuring to sample.
When they got up to their suite on the 11th floor, Orion’s ears picked up something. “What’s that?” He darted to the balcony and listened. “Whoa.”
“Orion, what is it?” Penelope joined him, putting an arm around his shoulders.
“Do you hear that?” She paused, “No, what?” He walked himself outside; “I can hear the ocean waves, better than I could before.” He listened to the tides and somehow felt at peace. “That’s so relaxing.”
Penelope grabbed his chair and dragged in back into the room, “Hey, let go for my chair.”
“Orion, we can go to the beach, AFTER we unpack.” He laughed, “All right.”
Orion, Penelope and Helen unpacked and got ready to head for the ocean. He put on some 45 SPH sun tan lotion with some help from Penelope and he put some on her. His aunt decided to rest in the room to sleep off the car-lag, so it was just the two of them heading to the beach. Penelope looked over, curiously, “It’s all right, Penelope. My aunt’s not used to driving for so long, let’s just let her sleep.”
When they arrived on the White Sands Beach, Orion hopped out of his chair and lay on the sand on his beach towel. He smiled, finding how pleasant the Miami breeze and sunlight was. He stayed there for hours. “This is awesome, isn’t it, Penelope?”
“It sure is, Orion. The weather couldn’t be more perfect.” She checked out her watch, “I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time.” He waited until she was gone before he went on with his “plan.” He looked over at the ocean and smiled. “Let’s see if I can go and stand there, feeling the ocean run by my feet.” He waited for Penelope to leave since he knew she wouldn’t approve of what he was trying to do, especially after what happened the other day.
He tried to stand on his feet, but it couldn’t be done. Instead, he just dragged his feet closer to the ocean’s edge. He felt the ocean go past his bathing suit and his back as he lay there, but he didn’t feel anything going by his feet. He looked out into the ocean and touched it with his hand. It was relaxing, but he wished his feet could feel the waves like in his dream. He decided to lay there for a while to soak up the sun and he let himself drift away to the sound of the waves.
He didn’t realize until a minute later that he fell asleep right by the edge of the ocean. He dreamt about being underwater. He looked around, feeling at ease, like he had in his recent dreams. He’d dreamt about nothing but swimming in the ocean and being surrounded by fish and other strange creatures that inhabited the waters in fiction.
He woke up after being submerged for about 10 minutes. He looked around, slightly confused, especially by the fact that he could see underwater without the water stinging his eyes. He only had to float a little to get his head above the water. He looked around and he saw a girl with reddish-brown hair surfing his way. He watched her and how she handled the waves, not realizing that she was heading his direction. He ducked underwater again and went back up when the water relaxed again.
He looked around on the surface, wondering how he was able to hold his breath underwater for a comfortable amount of time without panicking. He decided to head back to shore, letting himself float back like a piece of driftwood. He crawled back to his previous position, but a few feet away from where the ocean took him away. He laid there and sighed.
He desperately wanted to stand on his feet and feel the waves, but he couldn’t get his balance or even feel himself being able to stand up.
He then heard a voice, “Excuse me, can I help you?” He turned around and saw the girl with dark eyes, but had beautiful reddish-brown hair. He smiled and she laughed, “I haven’t seen anything this hot since the heat wave last summer. I’m Mia.”
“I’m Orion,” he smiled.
“Wow, that’s such a nice and original name, like the star formation, right?”
“I think so. My parents were original people; they came up with that name by looking at the stars during the time I was born.”
“Were you just out there swimming before?”
“You know, it’s funny. I fell asleep when I was lying just a few inches away from the ocean. The ocean carried me away and when I woke up, I got to the surface with no problem. It was almost like I was meant to be underwater in the ocean.” He thought back, “Were you out surfing before?”
“Yeah, I was. I’m working on my technique for an upcoming surfing contest.”
“You know, you’re really good. I was amazed with how you handled the waves. I almost wish I could do that, just so I can be closer to the ocean.” He paused and laughed, “Although I was probably already close enough to it.”
“Probably.” She paused when she saw him trying to get on his feet again, “So, you need help getting up?”
“Yes,” he nodded, “you see, I want to get onto my feet so I can feel the waves of the ocean for the first time.”
“Oh, are you new around here?”
He shook his head, “No, I haven’t felt the ocean run by my feet before.”
“How come?” She wondered, still a bit confused.
He sighed sadly and pointed, “See that wheelchair over there...” She looked over her shoulder and gasped, “Never would have guessed, huh?”
“Oh no, I’m sorry. I’ll help you onto your feet.” She pulled him up. Once he was on his feet, he felt very wobbly so she backed him up. “I’ll move you closer, how’s that?” He saw the ocean go his feet, but he looked down in sadness.
He sighed, “Mia, thanks, but I guess my feet will never be able to feel the ocean. I’m handicapped and I’m stuck like that for life.”
She helped him over and asked, “Did you know that you could get that fixed? If you pay a lot of money to specialists, they’ll help you with your problem.”
He sat back in his chair and started drying his feet off, “Thanks, but nobody will ever be able to replace my poor nerves. Penelope was right, that was just a dream and I’ll never be able to feel the ocean.” He started to wheel away in sadness.
She insisted on following, “Who’s Penelope, your sister?”
“She’s my girlfriend.”
“Girlfriend?” She gasped, in a disappointed kind of way.
“Oh sorry.” He sighed, “I didn’t know that was your aim.” He looked over and saw Penelope in the distance, “I’d better get back to my towel. Penelope would kill me if she knew about what I was trying to do, especially since I’m talking to another girl.” He shrugged, ”But she is a trusting person.”
“Well Orion, I’m glad to have met you. Penelope sure is lucky to have someone like you.” He laughed, “No, I’m the lucky one, good luck with your surfing contest, Mia.” She headed back out with her surf board and Orion lay back down, acting as if he was there the whole time.
Penelope got back and noticed something, “Orion, why are you all wet?”
“Don’t know.”
“C’mon, you need to get out of the sun and into the shade. Don’t want you to get overexposed to those harmful UV rays.” He sighed, “all right, let’s go.”
As they left, Mia took a look back as the couple left. “Well, things certainly haven’t changed after all these years. Those two have stayed true to their vow of love. Let’s just hope that the search for his destiny runs smoother than last time.”
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