year and a half: running away! And hadn’t he told himself over and over he was tired of running? Wasn’t that the reason for this trip, to try and bury his demons and attempt to get on with his life?
And what about Abel? Cullen had initiated this, whatever it was, and he’d promised he would stay in Southport a little while longer, so he couldn’t turn his back on Abel. Not now. That would be no different from God turning his back on Cullen. Abel needed something to hold on to. And Cullen realized he did as well. Cullen’s faith was already gone, but maybe he could help Abel hang on to his.
BY THE time Cullen reached his boat, his mood had improved, but only slightly. He was still alone and bitter, and his endless mood swings were getting the best of him.
Although he was really trying to get his life back on track, the oddest things set him off, and he was beginning to think he would never feel well or whole again. He had turned into a sullen Jekyll and Hyde, and he loathed himself for it.
Luckily, he’d once again talked himself off of the proverbial cliff. As he sat in the saloon feeling sorry for himself, he made an attempt to focus his attention on what he had instead of everything he didn’t have. You have a nice home in P-town. You have a thriving business. You have T-Time . And Cole left you set for life. You have so much more than most!
It dawned on Cullen that maybe he did want to do better for himself. And if he were being honest, he thought that Abel might have something to do with that. Abel needed him. And above all right now, Cullen needed to be needed.
Abel! Suddenly remembering he’d invited Abel to dinner, Cullen rummaged through the galley. He was running low on supplies, so he made a grocery list, showered, and took the marina’s courtesy car to the local Food Lion to buy supplies. Since he’d agreed to stay a few more days, he bought enough groceries to last until then, and he would deal with the next leg of his trip when the time came.
When Cullen returned, he put his groceries away, straightened the saloon, and cleaned the heads. When all his chores were done, he was exhausted. He glanced at the clock: 4:15.
Cullen lay across his bed, intending to only close his eyes for a few minutes, but his body had other plans.
Cullen was again sinking into the dark abyss. His lungs were already filled to capacity with cold, salty seawater, and after the initial shock and the flailing that ensued, his body settled down and accepted its fate. It was just a matter of time now before his brain followed the rest of his body and started to shut down.
He blinked twice against the dark, murky water, and a shred of hope momentarily filled his heart. Cole! He could vaguely see Cole, an arm’s length away, sinking along with him. Cole had a soothing and peaceful smile on his face, and despite the iciness of the water, it warmed Cullen to his core.
Cullen used his last bit of energy and reached out for Cole. To be holding on to each other when they sank to their final resting place together was Cullen’s last hope. But as he had been for the last year and a half, Cole was always just out of reach. But wait. Not this time. Cole reached out to him and took both of Cullen’s hands in his. He mouthed, “Not your time, love. Live!” Cole looked up to the surface.
Cullen tried to make his lips form a word. One word: “No!” But it was no use. He was barely hanging on to life. Suddenly a smiling Abel appeared next to Cullen and hovered, like an angel of sorts. Abel’s expression was filled with such compassion and love that it confused Cullen. Cole placed both of Cullen’s hands into Abel’s and smiled. “Live!”
Abel propelled Cullen toward the surface. Cullen wanted to fight, but he had no energy. He didn’t want to leave Cole. Didn’t want to live without him. He kept looking down as he was being forced to the surface. Cole was disappearing, getting smaller and smaller but still
And what about Abel? Cullen had initiated this, whatever it was, and he’d promised he would stay in Southport a little while longer, so he couldn’t turn his back on Abel. Not now. That would be no different from God turning his back on Cullen. Abel needed something to hold on to. And Cullen realized he did as well. Cullen’s faith was already gone, but maybe he could help Abel hang on to his.
BY THE time Cullen reached his boat, his mood had improved, but only slightly. He was still alone and bitter, and his endless mood swings were getting the best of him.
Although he was really trying to get his life back on track, the oddest things set him off, and he was beginning to think he would never feel well or whole again. He had turned into a sullen Jekyll and Hyde, and he loathed himself for it.
Luckily, he’d once again talked himself off of the proverbial cliff. As he sat in the saloon feeling sorry for himself, he made an attempt to focus his attention on what he had instead of everything he didn’t have. You have a nice home in P-town. You have a thriving business. You have T-Time . And Cole left you set for life. You have so much more than most!
It dawned on Cullen that maybe he did want to do better for himself. And if he were being honest, he thought that Abel might have something to do with that. Abel needed him. And above all right now, Cullen needed to be needed.
Abel! Suddenly remembering he’d invited Abel to dinner, Cullen rummaged through the galley. He was running low on supplies, so he made a grocery list, showered, and took the marina’s courtesy car to the local Food Lion to buy supplies. Since he’d agreed to stay a few more days, he bought enough groceries to last until then, and he would deal with the next leg of his trip when the time came.
When Cullen returned, he put his groceries away, straightened the saloon, and cleaned the heads. When all his chores were done, he was exhausted. He glanced at the clock: 4:15.
Cullen lay across his bed, intending to only close his eyes for a few minutes, but his body had other plans.
Cullen was again sinking into the dark abyss. His lungs were already filled to capacity with cold, salty seawater, and after the initial shock and the flailing that ensued, his body settled down and accepted its fate. It was just a matter of time now before his brain followed the rest of his body and started to shut down.
He blinked twice against the dark, murky water, and a shred of hope momentarily filled his heart. Cole! He could vaguely see Cole, an arm’s length away, sinking along with him. Cole had a soothing and peaceful smile on his face, and despite the iciness of the water, it warmed Cullen to his core.
Cullen used his last bit of energy and reached out for Cole. To be holding on to each other when they sank to their final resting place together was Cullen’s last hope. But as he had been for the last year and a half, Cole was always just out of reach. But wait. Not this time. Cole reached out to him and took both of Cullen’s hands in his. He mouthed, “Not your time, love. Live!” Cole looked up to the surface.
Cullen tried to make his lips form a word. One word: “No!” But it was no use. He was barely hanging on to life. Suddenly a smiling Abel appeared next to Cullen and hovered, like an angel of sorts. Abel’s expression was filled with such compassion and love that it confused Cullen. Cole placed both of Cullen’s hands into Abel’s and smiled. “Live!”
Abel propelled Cullen toward the surface. Cullen wanted to fight, but he had no energy. He didn’t want to leave Cole. Didn’t want to live without him. He kept looking down as he was being forced to the surface. Cole was disappearing, getting smaller and smaller but still
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