No Desperate Tango

Captain Jiggle-Wobble stood quietly for a moment. The phrase "it's now or never" echoed from all corners of his mind. He nodded. His eyes flashed alert.

"Goodbye, Stevens," Captain Jiggle-Wobble said.
"Good luck, Sir."

Captain Jiggle-Wobble leaped. And splashed, and sank deep. He could see her from above, but now that he was in the water, he wasn't quite sure where she had gone. He had enough of looking about, so he decided the only way to begin was to pick a direction. Right meant north east. Go.

As he swam, he remembered what was. She had never really cared for his career. He never knew why. He asked and asked and asked, but the response he got never sounded quite true. He inferred as best he could, but how can he know for sure?

Deeper and deeper he plodded. More north, more east. Maybe it was because he had to leave her alone so often. Why wouldn't she like some time to herself? He always came back with a gift and a song, and great, big, wide loving, but he could see now that it wasn't what she wanted, needed. She just needed him. Not the job. Not the income. She would take him as an accountant, but he could not take himself as such. So he did and lived for himself. Accommodating her as best he could. And how he loved her. He needs never speak of how much, for it was evident.

It was getting much darker now. His sharp eyes couldn't make out the ocean life around him except for subtle images darting by. He felt the disturbance in the ocean around him that they caused. And by that he knew their type. Lots of angelfish.

He turned on the light attached to his headgear. So vast and so deep. His thoughts were the only predator he saw. The questions "why", and "what can be done?" The answer is: "We'll see."

Of course he knows he end already. He's just trying to set the waking world straight. He needs the body, and the body needs a place to rest. Isn't down here good enough? Maybe, he thought, but he needs to see. He needs to do what he can for her, and not leave her alone anymore. He would never have abandoned her like this.

She was absolutely wonderful. In all ways. A few dark corners here and there as we all possess and guard, but she was as perfect as he knew anyone to be.

"Have you found her, Sir?" Captain Jiggle-Wobble spasmed slightly from the harsh interruption.
"No, Seabird."
"Are you cold?"
"Fucking freezing."
"Sir, I'm more than willing..."
"Thank you, Seabird."
"Yes, Sir."
"Goodbye."

There was really no need for communication down here.

He knew her by her hair, and that is what he saw first. Long black hair so smooth that at sight, he could feel it against his neck as he would while they embraced. He just allowed himself to sink, staring at her. His beam illuminating all her features that had now grown slightly dark. Never a careful embrace. Always a bit of a fling into the arms of the other. He loved that about her. She never held back from contact. She was so generous in many ways. He sank and was pulled towards her by some current. He didn't want to go closer. He could see all the ways she died. With pain, with struggle, with agony, with unwillingness. And yet he was inched forward. He fought for a moment, then touched where his breathing apparatus reached his mouth. It is only moments away in this environment.

"Seabird." He engaged his com.
"Yes sir."
"Go home."
"Sir, permission to speak my mind?"
"Once."
"I'll help you carry her up."
"No."
"If you'll please let me..."
"Seabird."
"Sir?"
"It seems there's a whole world above and below me. I'm not going to leave. I'm going to take it in."
"I'll make your name grand, Sir. You've done a lot that needs remembering."
"I only remember some of it. Shoulda kept better records."
"We carry on, Sir."

Captain released the com and was staring into the eyes of his wife. The impossibility of life and response is terrifying. He felt her hand through his suit. Too far removed. He sat on the bit of reef next to her. Hoped to see what she saw. Still, just a few fish and a lot of nothing. Specks floating. She wouldn't have even seen this far down. Death takes hold so quickly hear.

He imagined she would have been quite happy had they borne a child. He could see how her eyes would have lit and stayed aflame for so long. Even the tough parts would not phase them. And they would have done it together. Every inch of it. They would have flown as far as they could.

He cupped her head. Raised it a bit. Body was so rigid her upper half moved with it. He set her back down.

She was the only thing that died in all the ocean that night. He left her there and followed the remains of his dreams.