My Captain's Love Sank Before I Did

I drifted through the hospital corridor, watching Elijah shift restlessly outside the examination room. He furrowed his brow and kept checking his watch. Suddenly, the door swung open, and a nurse wheeled Kristen out of the room.

Elijah rushed toward her.

"She's still very weak and needs plenty of rest," the nurse stated.

Elijah nodded in acknowledgment. Then, he took Kristen's hand, his voice full of concern as he asked, "How are you feeling? Are you hurting anywhere else?"

Kristen shook her head. She looked so fragile, like she could shatter at the slightest touch. "I'm so cold…"

Elijah quickly pulled the blanket higher over her chest before touching her forehead. "Does anything else hurt? Do you want some water?"

She pressed her lips together as tears welled up in her eyes. "Eli… I was so scared. I thought I'd never see you again."

He gently pulled her into his arms, saying, "Hey, don't be silly. I'm right here. I'll always be with you."

I watched them with cold detachment, finding the whole thing ironic. He said he'd always be with her, so where did that leave me?

Right then, the hospital room door burst open, and my mom stormed in.

"Where's my daughter?" she demanded, her sharp gaze cutting straight through Elijah.

He jumped to his feet and shielded Kristen behind him. "Mrs. Clark, what brings you here? Don't worry. Gwendolyn's fine."

"Don't worry?" My mother's voice rose sharply as her eyes flicked toward the frail Kristen. "There was a shipwreck, and now, I can't reach her. How could I possibly not worry?"

Elijah pressed his lips into a thin line, then replied, "It all happened so fast. I was trying to save people. Gwendolyn got on a lifeboat after I did."

My mom scoffed. "And where is she now? Have you reached her?"

He pulled out his phone and dialed the number saved under "Honey". However, a cold, automated voice came through. "The number you've dialed is currently unavailable."

He ended the call, still unbothered. "Mrs. Clark, she's just upset I was busy saving other people. Whenever she's mad, she ignores my calls. It's just how she is."

My mom said nothing, though the worry in her eyes refused to fade.

"We've completed the headcount. No one's missing," he added with conviction. "Please, go home and rest. As soon as I reach Gwendolyn, I'll call you right away."

My mom sighed and murmured, "Gwen's my only daughter. She has to come back safe."

Rage boiled inside me. I wanted nothing more than to punch Elijah right there and then. How could he make such a careless promise to my mom when he hadn't even reached me?

But when I saw the faint relief on her face, I wished she could stay in the dark a little longer. Otherwise, the truth would only break her.

At that moment, Elijah's phone rang. It was Oscar.

"Captain Jensen, there's one passenger unaccounted for. It's a woman named Gwendolyn Clark."

I couldn't help feeling thankful that Elijah had already talked my mom into leaving. If she had heard that, she never would've been able to bear it.

Perhaps now Elijah understood just how arrogant he had been to be so certain.

I glared at him, but before Oscar could finish, Elijah interjected, "Her phone probably got damaged by the water. Try reaching her through one of the lifeboat radios."

Oscar paused for a beat. "I've contacted every lifeboat. She's not on any of them," he replied, his voice tight with worry.

Elijah frowned. "Then check the departure logs. Gwendolyn left after me. Find the record of her boat."

"But the lifeboat you took was the last one!" Oscar's voice rose sharply. "The ship completely went under after that. Anyone who left after you couldn't have survived!"