Day 1 (The highlights)
Something was crushing me -- hard, pinning me from behind. It was difficult to breathe as if my nose and mouth were being pressed into wet sand. I felt the gritty substance crunch between my teeth which confirmed my suspicions. I was lying face first in sand. If I didn't do something quickly I was going to fucking suffocate.
Channelling my increasing panic I braced myself as best I could I and heaved upwards trying to escape the crushing weight on my back. To my relief I felt it give a bit and managed to take a quick gulp of air just before it brutally pinned me again, smashing down on me like a ton weight.
Bruised and battered I lay for a second and gathered all my strength, pushing determinedly against my unknown nemesis. Suddenly I found myself free and blinded by light. Shielding my eyes with shaking hands I groaned in pain. Something was wrong. Very wrong. I couldn't remember anything. Not a thing. Nothing at all before the first taste of sand.
What was that thing that had been crushing me anyway? And more to the point where was I? A lazy surf of fizzing bubbles lapped around my bare feet and I looked around for the first time, noticing just how close I was to the sea. Almost as if I'd been washed up perhaps...
Something vivid blue and tattered lay beside me, a hulking thing, sort of like an aeroplane seat only it was badly shredded and upside down. And what was that thing sticking out from underneath?
I took a closer look and felt my heart thump loudly. Holy crap! It was an arm!
Dragging myself along the sand I pushed the seat over with my shoulder dreading what I might find underneath. For all I knew the body would be completely mangled.
My heart sank. I was looking at a dead man. There was an obvious head injury.
I felt terrified as I scanned his face hoping yet dreading some recognition. He could be anyone. He could be my father, my brother, even my husband! How was I supposed to know? Maybe this was the greatest tragedy I'd ever faced and I didn't even know it.
I tried to figure out who he was. What he meant to me. He looked to be between fifty and fifty five. Dark haired but going grey, his skin was swarthy, his hands were soft and his arms strong looking, covered with shimmering bronze hair that hinted at a certain virility.
I reached out and lifted his hand to my face. I felt sad that he was dead. But how could I not? He was the only other person I knew. I felt the need to be close to him. I could not bear to be alone.
"Why?" I began to sob. Carefully I lay down in his arms as though he was still alive.
"Why did you have to die?"
"I don't want to be alone!"
I don't know how long I cried for but at some point I must have fallen asleep.
When I awoke it was starting to go dark and I smiled at first not remembering my situation. I think perhaps I imagined I'd fallen asleep on holiday, on some exotic beach. A few seconds later though it all came flooding back to me. I was alone. Absolutely alone.
After a few seconds a hand reached up to comfort me. I stayed frozen as it stroked my tangled hair.
"Don't cry," said the man, still strapped inside the wreckage.
He smiled and held me to him.
Oh my God! He wasn't dead!
"Who are you?" I said stroking his arm, trembling all the while.
"Who am I?"
I nodded and looked up at him, my own fear reflected in his eyes.
"I was hoping you knew," he said sounding a little croaky.
He looked so disappointed. Like a little boy offered the world by his father then given a pebble instead.
I felt responsible for him somehow. I had this incredible urge to make him feel better.
"No," I said with surprising tenderness. "I'm afraid I don't know who you are. But I know I've never been more pleased to see someone in my entire life."
Day Two (The Highlights)
I'd managed to light a fire before nightfall and because of my lengthy nap earlier I was able to stay awake during the night and make sure it was kept alight.
Dawn was now giving way to morning and as the sun came up blazing with the promise of a scorching day I could see his face much more clearly. He certainly seemed very familiar and I remembered the relief I felt on discovering that he was actually alive. It had been pretty momentous.
As he lay on the sand a good portion of his chest was exposed beneath his tattered shirt revealing a well- toned physique and tantalising glimpses of even more bodily hair.
I threw another piece of twisted driftwood onto the fire. Something glistened in the light.
I examined my hand and to my shock discovered a wedding band.
I sat back in the sand with a thump.
God! I'm married! Is he my husband?
I looked across at the man who had shielded me with his body. Well at least that was what I thought had happened. But how could I know? I didn't even know my name -- let alone his.
I took off the ring and held it up to the light. Inside was inscribed;
"From Phil to Gina, with love on our wedding day xxx"
I swallowed hard and called out to the sleeping man opposite.
"Phillip!"
Startled, he sat up and blinked. He rubbed his eyes and looked up at me questioningly.
"What? What is it?" he said. "You ok?"
"Yes. I think I just found out who we are," I said holding up the ring.
"Really?"
I nodded and passed the ring over for him to see.
"From Phil to Gina, with love on our wedding day xxx" he murmured to himself.
"So I must be your husband then?" he said.
I nodded and took the ring back.
"Holy cow! I won the lottery!" he said staring at me in disbelief.
I found myself smiling in spite of everything.
Day 3 (The Highlights)
