3. Strand of Hope

Elven opened his eyes and then closed it again. The big waves that tipped off the lifeboat where Belle and their baby boarded flashed before his eyes. He abruptly opened them again and jumped off the bed. The surroundings spun and he almost fell on the ground. Luckily someone grabbed his arm. His head hurt so bad. He touches his head only to feel the bandages. The pain is excruciating. He staggered to stand firm.

" You need to lie down. Your injury isn't a joke, sir. "

He recognizes the crew's voice. He's the one who saves him. He didn't want to lay on the bed again so he decided to just sit down. He still holds his head, pain written on his face.

" Where's my wife and my daughter? Did they find them? Are they okay? "

He obviously tries not to fall down even when he's sitting. He's in total pain right now and he can't do anything but to worry about his beloved wife and daughter's whereabouts. He needs to see them with his very eyes.

The crew fell silent. He averted Elven's questioning eyes. And he can't help but feel sorry for him. He understands his pain but he still needs to rest because he is injured himself. He honestly can't do anything right now.

" They're still searching for them, sir. "

Sadness fills the room. Tears fell from his eyes. He cries silently in front of the crew. He can't imagine his wife and daughter still floating somewhere feeling cold while he's here in the convenience of the hospital. His shoulder shakes with sorrow and anguish. He needs to go and search for them himself. He needs to do something rather than die slowly from the anxiety of waiting.

" Please. I beg you. Help me search with the authorities. I swear I won't do anything stupid. I- I just need to be there. I don't want to go insane here. Please. Please."

He pleaded in a small voice. The reliable version of him can't be found right now. He's trying his very best not to fall apart. He can't think of anything but his wife and daughter's faces. He missed them. He wants to hug and kiss them.

" I-I'll talk to the authorities, sir. Please wait for me here. "

Elven slowly nodded and the crew left the room rubbing his eyes. A nurse came with a food tray. She forced a smile when he found Elven trying not to cry anymore.

" Is your head okay, Mr. Sanford? Don't you feel dizzy right now? "

Elven just shook his head and bows. Hiding his tearful eyes.

" Here. Please try to eat these so you gain more strength. Mr. Lambert says that you will go with the search and rescue operation that's why he asked me to bring these to you. "

The nurse sets up the tray of food on the hospital bed's table and leaves the room after. Elven started to eat, forcing the food down by gulping water every time he swallows. But he stands up and immediately reaches for the bathroom with long quick strides, afraid to stumble again. He throws up. His body rejected the food. He can't take it. Not now.

He washed up and the hospital's room door opened and Josh Lambert entered. He's a bit surprised as he did not find Elven at the bed. He turns his gaze at the bathroom and there he finds Elven leaning at the door for support.

Elven quickly held up his hand dismissing Lambert's worried face. He slowly returns and sits on the bed.

Lambert walks and stands in front of him, light of hope filled his eyes.

" I talked to the coast guards, sir. They give us permission to go. We just need you to get the hospital's permission. I already talked to your doctor. "

Elven's face lit up. Hope spread all over him. He will search for his family. He can find them for sure. They will be together again.

*****

They leave the hospital and start the search operation at exactly 8:00 am.

The coast guards spread and searched in different directions to cover as many places as they could. The ship has sunk and got totaled by the giant waves. The shipwrecks were left floating on the water.

Time passes without them noticing. They search the vast ocean here and there. The divers dive so many times that they lost count.

As per the data they've got. 15 individuals were found lifeless. 11 adults and 4 children. 3 adults were from the ship's crew. Some were found floating, some were on the seashore. Some were still inside the sunken ship. How devastating the tragedy they all faced last night.

Yes.

It all happened last night. The ocean seemed mad last night but it's all calmed now.

It's just like what happened last night is just a nightmare that no one will ever forget as soon as you wake up.

*****

The ocean devours by darkness again. It's time for the search and rescue operation to stop for today. Elven doesn't want to stop but he needs to follow. He wants to be able to go again tomorrow to search for his family. And he needs to rest because his head injury might get the best out of him. That would lead to him not being able to search for his wife and daughter.

Josh Lambert sadly took him to his hospital room. He kindly denies his offer that they eat first before calling it a night. Elven lay on his hospital bed with his arm covering his eyes.

He cries himself to sleep. The strand of hope is slowly slipping away from his grasp.