“Yeah.” I replied. My voice was barely a whisper. I cleared my throat to regain some control of it and my emotions. “I have to go guys.” I started as I gathered the photos and my diary. I grabbed my bag, “She would be at the gallery soon and I don’t want to miss her.”

“Tina.” Alice called back. I looked at her. She didn’t know what to ask or if she knew she didn’t know how. Instead she asked, “You gonna be ok?”

“I’ll be fine.” I forced a smile and left.

I got to the gallery, her car was already parked in her usual spot. Today was so far has been her routine. She visited her niece at eleven and had lunch with her. She left work a little after five and went home. She left and drove to the beach. She poured her glass of wine. She massaged her temples perhaps hoping to ward of a headache. I saw her take a small bottle out of her pocket. I couldn’t zoom in enough to read the label but I assume its some kind of painkiller. She took one shake of the bottle and chased the pills with the first glass of wine. She did that for each glass she poured. I was scared for her, because I knew after she drank she would take her three dips in the water. I silently prayed that she wouldn’t do that today. She must be aware that that would be a deadly combination. She got naked and walked out about waist high. She made her first dip as the wave came in. I breathed a sigh of relief when she surfaced. My heart stopped when she made the second dip and as she surface it started beating again. When she went under the third time, I waited patiently for her to resurface. When she didn’t after a few seconds, I knew something was wrong.

I took off my shoes and jacket and ran to the beach. I dove in hoping the current didn’t take her too far out. Luckily and thank the Gods that water was unusually calm that evening, because as I dove a second time I saw her. I grabbed her and pulled her to safety and as I breathed life back into her she woke up coughing and gasping for air. She was disoriented for a while because she didn’t remember me from the gallery. It took a few minutes before she caught herself enough to get dressed. I gathered her clothes and turned away as she got dressed. My back was still turned when I heard, “Thank you for saving me.”

I turned to face her. “Its ok. Luckily I was passing by when you went under.” I lied a little.

She half smiled, but I knew what she was thinking, ‘lucky or unlucky?’ I looked at the bottles on the sand. She followed my eyes, “It’s a bad habit I know. I know I shouldn’t drink and swim.”

“Yeah you shouldn’t.”

Her face changed, like she was mad at me for saying that. “Well thank you for saving my life.” She picked up the bottles, “Do you need a ride?”

“No, I parked on the other side.”

“Ok. I will see you around.” She started to walk away when she turned around, “Have we met before? I feel like I know you from somewhere.”

“I don’t think so, but you ever know.”

She stood watching me trying to find the answer, which finally hit her. “I do. You came to my gallery a few weeks ago.”

“Oh yes.” I pretended along. “That’s right, you’re Bette Porter.”

“Tina right?”

“Yes.”

“Do you want to go get a coffee or something to eat maybe? All of a sudden I’m famished.”

“Almost dying can do that to you.” I joked.

“You can follow me. I’m parked over there,” She pointed to the road above the cliff.

“What do you drive?” I pretended not to know.

“X5.”

“Ok. I’ll see you in a bit then.” I watched her disappear behind the rock before turning to go for my car.