SAVING ZACHARY

The view was spectacular, just as I imagined and even more. I walked with no destination in mind, just allowing the air consume me. No bliss could measure up to this one, not even the steady air-conditioning system in Paddas Bank, the one place we slummers trust with all our income, not by choice anyway. I visited there quite often while growing up, though mum always had her salary wired to her account, but I seized all opportunities, both making deposits and withdrawals, just to enjoy the luxury of an air conditioner and wonder if the earth's atmosphere could ever be that cool, ever.

Back to the view, I took in all the beauty I could since I'm rarely graced with such sight. The sky, the ocean, the sand. Okay maybe, it's a little mundane but the bliss I'm enjoying here is better than any view.

I reach for my phone to take a few pictures but remembered I left it at home. I sigh and continue my walk. I see a little girl and her father attempting the Titanic pose, with her tiny legs resting on his left knee. The joy on her dad's face was enough prove that he cherished her more than anything. I never saw that look on my father. I doubt he was capable of wearing such expression.

I smiled at the man when our eyes met, he smiled back then returned his attention to his daughter. I increased my pace when I heard a voice behind me, one I was running away from.

"Sam! Sam! Hey girl wait up", Chloe shouted while running to catch up with me.

It was my very first time at the beach, yes I've lead a boring life. I've only been to an amusement park a few times, all as a child. I couldn't visit the beach then cos the it was farther away and my mother rarely had time to take us anywhere.

Now that I'm in college I live closer, but I never had the chance to visit until today. So there is no way I'm letting my best friend deprive me of enjoying the air here to the fullest.

"Chloe you've gotta keep up", I shouted back, still running and not bothering to turn around, she should know I'm already wearing a scowl.

Chloe is my best friend, more like a sister since we practically grew up together. She came to live with her aunt and granny when she was ten , their house was just a stone throw from ours. She was always lively and outgoing but I was telling exact opposite. After a few verbal fights we clicked and with each passing day, the bond grew. We attended the same grade school, now attending the same college, we literally do everything together.

Which is why I still can't believe she visited the beach last month when I visited my grandma.

Basically, she was having the fun of her life, parading in sexy beach wear and flirting with gorgeous boys while I was pounding my time away, and I mean literally. My granny has a knack for making us pound cassava, and trust me when I say those are trying times. I never get used to it. Though she kept chanting that practice makes perfection, but I'm miles away from attaining that.

So, Chloe and I already made plans for our 'beachy' adventure since we never had time to visit due to school work. We thought it'd be much fun to visit during the short break, but plans changed, I traveled home and she went without me. In other words, she ruined our 'first-time together routine' and now she's being tardy.

"I can't believe you're still mad at me", Chloe said, finally catching up with me. Reaching for my arm, she whirled me around to face her.

"Yes I'm still mad" I say to her face.

"Come off it Sam, I already apologized. Tina really wanted to party here with her friends, so she invited me, I had to go with them", she explained, for the thirtieth time today.

It was so hard to stay angry at her because she had the sweetest and cutest face, always looking innocent. Unlike me though, you can never tell when I'm happy cos my face is always devoid of expressions. In other words, I don't have a smiling face.

"Yes you had to go because, pause I remember why, cos Max was gonna be there". I retorted clearly annoyed that she would betray our ritual because of a boy.

Okay, maybe I was being a tad unfair and irrational but hey, 'chicks before dicks' right? but my best friend obviously chose the rod, and I bet a tiny one at that. Oh Lord! I didn't just think about Max's JT size.

"Sam, you know I have feelings for Max", Chloe said in a calmer tone but that was enough to jolt me out of my reverie.

"Yes, and Tommy from Engineering, then Robert too, did I mention Patrick? Oh yes you like Patrick as well". I said using my fingers to count her objects of admiration, no doubt pissing her off even more.

"This is not funny, I know I ruined our ritual but I did it for the sanest of reasons, I bet you'd have done the same if you were in my shoes, so stop being hypocritical", Clo was now in full bad mood mode but her scowling face doesn't phase me one bit.

"I need to enjoy this scenery, arguing with you right now isn't helping my already dampened spirit. I'll see you later Clo". I said finally and moved away from her, I hear her sigh then turn to see her walking in the opposite direction.

I admit I was a bit harsh with her but that should teach her to take our rituals more seriously. I wasn't that mad at her, but I couldn't spend the little time I have here habouring anger for my best friend. I simply needed a little private time to wrestle with my inner demons, and the only way I could be alone is pretending I was still mad.

For someone who wanted to melt in this 'beachy' bliss, I had a lot on my mind. The session just started and I don't have half of my tuition yet. I can't depend on my mum for everything now, the woman literally starves to make sure my siblings and I get most of the things we need. Though, on several occasions I've funded some things at home but that is nothing compared to the burden on her shoulders. I was a sophomore when my scholarship was suddenly terminated. No prior notification, no explanations, nothing at all came. I surfed the net for news, I visited the administrations but it wasn't a school scholarship, so they couldn't do much. Mum had to take quite a few loans, while I made a few change from my part-time jobs. January, I waited but nothing came, again. Mum pleaded that I forget about it but I couldn't understand why Evans Inc. would make promises they couldn't keep.

When I found out I was the only beneficiary that was cut off, I felt several things at the same time. I sent emails, I visited but wasn't even allowed to meet HR or anyone of importance. My mum only kept repeating it was her fault, she cried a lot then but never said anything more. I resolved to work hard and finish what I started, bearing in mind that there'll be no med school for me.

I caught the tear trying to escape my glands, and moved on. That's all I can ever do, there's no point beating myself up about it. I moved on

when father left, I did so too when my first love left for college, and I'm doing so now. Moving on.

There were just a handful of people at the beach today, and I was virtually the only one in this area.

I turn around and saw people a bit farther but around just in case I'm in need of rescuing, not that I'll be cos there's no way I'm going near the water. I love beaches because of the wonderful view and smooth sand, not because of the large body of water.

Few feets away, a man stood very close to the water than normal. He was wearing a black suit coupled with black shoes.

I moved closer towards him, on a normal day I wouldn't dream of being that brave but after my little fight with Chloe, I wanted to enjoy my day to the fullest, and my idea of enjoyment was forgetting my sanity for a little while.

'Samantha, don't bother, just go your way'. My inner voice was scolding me already but I'm as stubborn as a mule, she should know.

I walked closer to the man but stopped dead in my tracks when I saw him move.

"So he isn't a statue after all", I said to myself.

He dropped something on the moist sand, I couldn't see him properly but I notice his countenance change, his shoulders sagged like someone defeated, then he ventured into the water fully clothed.

That was when it clicked, I was about to witness a suicide.

"Man in Black!!!"