A glowing light appeared in the water. At least, she thought it was in the water. In the darkness, it was difficult to see where the sea ended and the dark night sky began.

It was just a tiny pin prick of light, on the far horizon.

She stood, transfixed, unable to take her eyes off of that light. How long had she been there? She couldn’t say. She inhaled a long, deep breath. Salt. Seaweed. Ozone. It smelled clean. Fresh. She remembered when the world smelled clean and fresh all of the time. But those days were gone, and only here, at the edge of the world did she capture that smell that transported her back in time.

Images from her childhood flashed through her mind: her seventh birthday party with the rainbow cake. Falling from a chute and skinning her knees. Building a snowman- the low winter sun, the smell of the snow, the feel of her damp wooden mittens. Her brother pulling her hair.

God. Jamie. Her breath caught in her throat. She hadn’t thought of him for so long, she had almost forgotten him entirely. She let out a small sob, as she remembered his face: his dark hair, his crooked smile, and those eyes- those crystal clear, blue eyes that knew her very soul.

She shivered, and the thought was gone. She forced it back down, deep inside that place where the dark thoughts go.

The small light remained. It was on the horizon, she thought, more confidently this time. How far away was it? That she didn’t know.

But she hoped. Just a small flicker of hope, but it was there.

She hoped it was them- and she hoped they hadn’t forgotten about her.