Serena twisted her wrists free, as she let go of Christina and it was too much for Christina to overcome as the wind ripped Serena away and into the whirlwind and out of view. Christina was abruptly hauled inward by Big Jim and Matt.
She was completely inconsolable with grief and Matt pulled her into a corner holding her tightly as he rocked her like he would've done for one of his own children, if he'd ever had any.
My heart was bleeding as I gripped the wheel. Christina's wails of loss behind me pierced through me with awful force, but the worst was the sight of the big Samoan crumpled over on his knees by the broken door sobbing his heart out.
I don't think Serena had ever noticed the secret attraction the big man had shyly kept to himself for her, but I had noticed it. I had hoped he'd get the courage built up to tell her how he felt for her, but he'd remained quiet locked up in reserved shyness and now it was too late.
The big man's even bigger heart was breaking and I felt his pain even as I had myself once and still did.
"Jim?" I called out to him.
He looked over at me his eyes reflecting the raw misery that he felt. I gestured for him to come to me.
Slowly he got up and came to me. I took his hand and put it on the wheel and met his eyes and let him see the commiserating emotion I had for him.
"It helps to stay busy."
He nodded and grabbed a hold of the wheel with his other hand, which was bloody from where he had been holding onto the doorframe. I stepped away and let him have the wheel as I moved back to help Matt with Christina.
Just as brutally quick as the storm had come upon us claiming the life of one of my friends it departed from us and the water was calm once more as the clouds began to glow brightly overhead again. It was as if the storm had never been, but my battered ship and wrecked heart of the girl sobbing against Matt's chest were living testimony to the savagery of the storm that had left its mark forever.
Where was God in this horrible life occurrence? Why did such a thing have to happen?
Had God tricked me into making this trip into the deep?
Was He really planning a harsh destruction of me and what little I had left in repayment for my harsh words and rebellious heart of the past seven years? Was the death of my friend my punishment?