Part I:

“The rented car, driven with such impatient exuberance by The Senator, was speeding along the unpaved, unnamed road, taking the turns in giddy skidding slides, and then, with no warning, somehow the car had gone off the road and had overturned in black rushing water, listing to its passenger’s side, rapidly sinking.” 

Am I going to die, like this? 

It’s the fourth of July. Fireworks everywhere. 

Brilliant flashes of color and light. 

The party was fun, but he wanted to leave. We’re on a back road now, 

The Senator is driving very fast. 

Stopping and starting. He snorts. Splashes his drink. 

I take a deep breath: ‘I think we’re lost, Senator.’

‘You can’t get lost on an island, Kelly.’

He chuckles. 

Spills his drink. The one I brought for him-

‘One for the road,’ he said 

‘This is a shortcut, Kelly. There’s only one direction and we can’t be lost.’

‘But the road is so poor –‘

‘Because it’s a shortcut, Kelly, I’m sure.’

I look out the window: Such beautiful fireworks! 

The Senator smiles at me as we fly off the road. 

Not now. Not like this. 

“At such moments times accelerates. Near the point of impact, time accelerates to the speed of light.”

I look out the window: Through the cracked windshield I see only darkness. 

A swirling, cold darkness. 

What is this place? Where are we now? 

“She was twenty-six years eight months old too young to die thus too astonished, too disbelieving, to scream as the car flew off the road and struck the surface of the near-invisible water as if for an instant it might not sink but float.”

Not like this. No. No. 

He’s here! I can hardly believe it The Senator’s here! 

Now this party’s getting interesting… 

You know how it is when you meet someone and feel a certain rapport, 

A kind of connection. You know how it can be, that type of recognition. 

Like slipping into warm water. 

‘Don’t worry, Kelly, we’ll get there and we’ll get there on time.’

He accelerates, brakes. Acceleration. 

Brake again, now faster, curve, accelerate. 

Turn. Sharper. 

I hear him say, ‘Hey’ as we fly off the road. 

The water is flooding over the hood, over the cracked windshield, 

Seeping through the crushed door, dark water

Roiling, churning as if alive, and angry. 

Don’t be angry with me! I’m not a bad girl. 

Sure, let’s have a drink. Vodka tonic is fine, 

Sure, let’s go for a walk: The beach here is beautiful, 

The water so blue and crystal clear… 

(And I wonder when he will kiss me)

Let’s go- 

The party was fun but now it’s getting slow. Just a minute Senator-

I want to say goodbye to my friends.

We’re leaving. Don’t be mad. I promise I’ll call you tomorrow. 

‘Here’s our turn!’

He seems so sure of himself. But we’re leaving the highway. 

He must know that, must have a plan. 

Surely he knows the way to the ferry… 

I hear him say ‘Hey-‘

“The Senator fell against her and their heads knocked and how long it was the two of them struggled together, stunned, desperate, in terror of what was happening out of their comprehension. The Senator fumbled clawing at the safety belts extricating himself by sheer strength from his seat, away from the broken steering wheel, away from the woman frantically clutching at his trousered leg, his ankle, his foot crushing upon her striking the side of her head, forcing himself through the door, with fanatic strength opening the door against the weight of black water, leaving her behind crying, begging, ‘Don’t leave me! – help me! Wait!’

Part II:  

He’ll be back. I know he’ll be back. 

They say, The Senator might come to the party today. His best friend is here. Wouldn’t that be neat?

Dear grandchild, remember the way you make your life, the love you put into it. That’s God.

He’ll be back. He’ll save me, of course. Or bring others. 

Why can’t I move? My leg is caught, maybe broken. No-

Pain. Don’t give into the pain.

The door is crushed, the window cracked, water seeping. No-

Pain. 

The dashboard buckled. How did he get out? I hope he’s alright…

“Was The Senator lying on the weedy embankment vomiting water in helpless spasms drawing his breath deep, deep to summon his strength and manly courage preparatory to returning to the black water to dive down to the submerged car like a capsized beetle helpless and precariously balanced on its side in the soft muck of the riverbed where his trapped and terrified passenger waited for him to save her, waited for him to return to open the door to pull her out to save her: was that the way it would happen?”

It’s a beautiful day on this island. Sunny and calm. 

Drinks on the terrace with intimate friends, old and new. 

The wind is warm, caressing… 

He’s here! I can hardly believe it, The Senator’s here! 

And really so nice, really warm-

Not condescending, not what I pictured at all. 

“Kelly,” he says. -imagine that-

Calling me “Kelly!”

The Senator calling me “Kelly” like we were old friends. 

“Kelly,” he says.

“Now, later, away from the others, walking along the shore. 

“Kelly,” he says. And touches my arm, wondering if I feel cool or warm 

From the wind from his hand from his eyes.

So surprising, exciting. 

To be kissed on the beach. 

The sun getting lower. 

As the black water filled her lungs, and she died. 

“Except:”

Thank God! 

They’ve gotten me out! 

Go- go go go

Sirens blaring:

Out of the way! Out of the way!

Quickly go!

To the bright lights! In the emergency room. 

Pump out the water all the black water.

So cold. The muck and the sewage. The icy mud. 

All of it out!

A horrible black hose shoved down my throat by a stranger. 

Scraping my throat. Choking me.

No- pain. 

Sucking the poison out, poisonous venom,

Black water

Out of my stomach.

Out of my veins quickly.

In a matter of seconds, of minutes

It’s over! 

I’m here!

Under the bright lights with strangers, cheating Death!

Who’s this little girl? Dear Grandchild, 

Scooping you up in my arms 

So precious, unknowing. 

Your future is also mine: That’s God.

Will anyone believe me? 

Chatting with The Senator, drinking with The Senator, laughing with The Senator, 

Driving with The Senator to where? 

I’m not sure-

Who cares?

He likes me, I know he likes me! 

We missed the ferry he wanted to catch. 

We’ll catch the next one. 

No big deal. 

He seems annoyed now, impatient. 

What’s the big deal? 

Are we lost? I think we might be lost.

Should I say something or will he just think I’m stupid?

He must know this isn’t the highway.

Speeding-

This rutted abandoned road clearly isn’t the highway.

Skidding-

No houses, no lights, not people. 

Only swampy ditches, lifeless trees.

Speeding-

Insects cries, harsh and percussive

Skidding-

I’m alone. 

He was here, but now he’s gone. Gone to get help, of course.

Has it been an hour? Or just ten minutes? 

He’s coming back. I know he’s coming back. 

Where am I now? I mean exactly where? 

What? 

What did you say?

I’d never doubt you-

I know you’ll be back. 

“Kelly,” he says… 

My friend, my new, intimate friend. 

I can breathe. I can manage it.

There’s a bubble-

A large bubble of air. 

Plenty of air. 

Just don’t panic. 

So much water, seeping.

Black water that smells of sewage and oil-

So cold! 

Cold, even in summer.

Just don’t panic.

He promised. You promised. 

No, I’d never doubt you-

I know you’ll be back.

“He’d been desperate to get free using her very body to lever himself out of the door overhead… frantic kicking like a great upright maddened fish knowing to save itself by instinct.”

You’re wrong! 

Who are you anyway? 

Can’t see your faces.

They’re blurred in the windshield. 

But I tell you, you’re wrong! 

He hasn’t abandoned me! 

He didn’t kick me, didn’t just flee. Didn’t leave me to die in the black water.

He hasn’t forgotten-

Hasn’t abandoned me!

“Kicking free of the doomed car swimming desperate to save his life to shore there lying exhausted vomiting the filthy water which no power on earth could induce him to return to, rising at last to flee on foot, The Senator limping gasping for breath covered in filthy black muck, stumbling back along the marshland toad two miles to the highway, disheveled as a drunk and if anyone saw him? Photographed him? And if God who so long favored him now withdrew his favor? And if never elected president of the United States after all? 

At the highway he crouched panting like a dog crouched in hiding in the tall rushes waiting for traffic to clear so he could run limping across the road to an outdoor telephone booth. What can I do? What can I do? God instruct me what can I do? That girl – she’s dead. She got emotional, grabbed the wheel – 

They’ll say manslaughter – they’ll get me for – shut up! Just tell me where you are and I’ll come get you.”

Has it been an hour? Or just ten minutes?

I see new faces. These faces are young. Much younger than I remember.

How can this be? 

Mommy and daddy, so young, so happy. I’m so happy! 

Together with you, together with you again. 

I’ve been so scared, afraid of being forgotten.

I’m not a bad girl-

Mommy, I’m not. Really, I’m not.

Sometimes we argue. 

Sometimes I know I’ve said terrible things. 

And I’m sorry for that.

I love you. Both you and daddy. I hope you know that.

Please know that.

Your face is so young… 

How can this be?

So beautiful! So beautiful!

And daddy so handsome, your prince and mine-

Oh, daddy please hold me again! 

I’ve been so scared. Afraid of being forgotten.

Don’t go away. 

Please don’t go! 

Stay!

Your faces- they’re changing! Changing!

Mommy and daddy you look so old, so tired, so grey, so beaten! 

Don’t be angry with me! I’m not a bad girl. 

Really, I’m not.

Don’t leave me here alone.

“The accident had not happened yet – for there was the shiny black car only now turning off the highway onto the desolate rutted road, speeding, skidding, along the road-“

As the black water filled her lungs, and she died. 

“No.”

“At the last possible moment, coughing and choking she strained to lift her torso higher, to raise her head higher straining.”

The bubble- 

It’s smaller. 

Maybe if I sip it. 

Just swallow some water, 

Small mouthfuls, it won’t be so bad. 

Like drinking. 

Small mouthfuls…

Soon they will come! 

Soon he will bring them here! 

Soon!

“She was drowning, but she was not going to drown. She was strong, she meant to put up a damned good fight.” 

He’ll be back.

I know that he’ll be back!

As the black water filled her lungs, and she died. 

“And yet:” 

Something is out there. 

Movement by the windshield.

He’s here! Yes, I see him!

He’s come back to save me!

Now: 

Wrenching the door open! 

Now: 

Freeing my legs!

Take me to the air!

Give me sweet air to breathe!

We swim up to the surface! 

Swiftly up to the sun! 

So warm, so inviting! 

As the black water filled her lungs, and she died.