The Light Keeper

Miles and miles of an endless seashore as far as the eye can see and so far, I've seen no one else. The only sound is the crashing of the ways against the rocks and the shoreline. "Where is everyone?" She thinks to herself and continues to walk on, moving closer to the water's edge and letting it lightly brush against her bare feet. The sand is warm and the sun is slightly covered by the thin clouds that roll by.

She sighs and lifts her head to the scene before pushing aside her short hair as it blows into her eyes. There is a bend ahead and she goes around it and stops suddenly, a lighthouse is in the distance. It was hidden behind the giant sand dune and even more, there is someone walking around by the house.

Her heart begins to beat faster and she takes off in a run toward the building. She isn't alone, someone else is here on this island. As she reaches the walk she stops, puts on her sandals, and begins walking quickly toward the lighthouse. "Hello!" She yells.

The person turns and their features reveal a man, she slows slightly, friend or foe? But does it really matter, she's not alone. Tropical surroundings aren't enjoyable alone. "Hello!" She yells again.

He raises his arm to the sky, "hello. What are you doing here?"

They are only a few feet apart, slightly out of breath she answers, "I thought I was the only one here."

"You didn't answer my question, what are you doing here?"

"Honestly, I don't know. I'm not even sure where here is or how I got here."

He tilts his head slightly, "I'm afraid I don't understand."

"Neither do I."

He removes his jacket and places it around her bare shoulders, "you don't remember?"

She accepts his offer and pulls it around her, shaking her head, "no, I don't."

"Do you remember anything?"

She turns and looks out at the shoreline she just ran, large palm trees blowing in the wind. The cooling breeze thick with the salty sea smell. She turns back to him and asks, "where is here?"

He holds her stare for a moment, "no man's island".

She frowns in confusion, "this island was deemed unhabitable years ago but it is also a gateway to paradise. I'm just here to show the way."

"I don't understand. Then what am I doing here?"

"What's the last thing you do remember?"

"I..." And then images flash before her, a boat, rough waves, dark skies, something in the distance light, bright light, and then darkness.

"A storm and a boat with a light guiding us to it." She bites her lower lip and looks at him, "but that's all I remember."

He nods slightly. "But if you were manning the lighthouse you must have seen us."

"Us?"

"Us... Yes, us. Me and my fiance. He was a charter boat captain."

"Where is he?"

"I, uh, I don't know. Perhaps he is on the other side of the island."

He shakes his head slowly, "no ma'am. I've been to the top of the lighthouse, there is no shipwreck anywhere and no boats as far as the eye can see."

"Then... he drowned? He's dead?"

She turns bringing her hand to her lips and letting out a small cry. A few moments pass before she feels a hand on her shoulder. She turns, "let's go inside, ma'am. We can talk more in there."

He turns and begins walking toward the lighthouse, and she slowly follows. "But what else is there to talk about? He's dead and we need to call it in."

"That won't be necessary ma'am."

She stops, "what do you mean? Why?"

He lets out a sigh and turns back towards her, "because ma'am he's not the one who died... You did."

Her mouth drops, her eyes grow wide and in a whisper, she asks, "who are you?"

"Me? I'm the keeper of the lighthouse, guiding the souls of the sea to safety so they can cross over."