Rebirth Into My Second Chance

Chapter 208

Hand in hand, we strolled along the beach, the vastness of waves crashing against the shore and the salty sea breeze brushing against our faces enveloping us in its embrace. "Max, can you swim?" Before he could even respond, I playfully pushed him into the ocean.

But in that moment he fell, he grabbed my hand, pulling me into the waves with him.

I couldn't swim, struggling and swallowing mouthfuls of seawater until he pulled me up, "Trying to play tricks on me?"

I shook my head, it was just a jest.

"Wanna try surfing?" Max suggested just as Helen came running over with a surfboard in hand.

"I can't," I replied, touching the salty residue on my face. But as I stood there with my feet soaked in the seawater, it felt like all the pressure in my heart was washing away. "Surfing's an adrenaline rush, one way I de-stress. I'll teach you."

Saying so, he led me into the sea, and onto the surfboard. Clinging onto him in fear initially, I soon realized he had everything under control.

The bigger the wave, the more thrilling the ride.

From fear to joy, riding with and against the waves, it was an experience of letting go and freeing one's mind.

"Got the hang of it?"

"No, I can't swim. I'm too scared to do it on

next mission is to teach you how

swim. I remembered wanting to help during a flood, but the overwhelming waters had me too scared to act. I was always

Max didn't call me out on it, saying he'd teach me to swim was probably his way of

new facets

courage, to believe in my best self, and to shed my

"Max, thank you."

the sea, embracing each other, reveling in a

I thank you too. Tracey was

how to communicate, to handle various social interactions. I figured the only way I could get you out of the orphanage was by becoming stronger. But by the time I was ready,

the seawater, I tiptoed, pulling his face closer and kissed him,

He was my band-aid.

I was his

to heal and save

the saltiness of the sea and the sweetness of our bond, we

ashore, only to wake up in dry clothes, lying quietly in the grand Hilton family mansion. Opening my eyes, my mind was set on becoming

Closing them, my thoughts

Elmwood Springs, their lost homes, and the medical conditions of those far in the

time to explore more challenging heart