Free The Day Of The Wave by Becky Wicks

few meters and the sing-song thrum of birds and wildlife in the ocean of trees is a crazy stereo soundtrack. I forgot how loud the jungle is. My mom was obsessed with the sound of crickets and cicadas. Before we even came here she had a jungle CD she'd put on at night to help her sleep. I'm here, mom. Are you still here?
    I spot a woman in her mid-forties hanging wet swim stuff over the railings of one of the villas and Ben holds his hand up at her. I do the same and she waves. She could've been her. Everything's so nice and normal, just like it was before...
    Don't think about it. 
    The path in the trees comes to an end and there it is, the beach, right in front of us. I hold my breath. It doesn't get any easier seeing that ocean, infinite and deceivingly friendly. I hate it. I focus on the sparkles, the way several large rocks are jutting out like emerald sculptures, the curve of the white sand against the blue. My breath escapes, slowly. I hate it, but it's really pretty. 
    'Over here,' Ben says, fishing in his pocket and pulling out a set of keys I saw him take from the reception desk at Dream Dive. He leads me to a villa like the other ones, except this one faces the ocean. 'I reserved this one for you, in case you showed up,' he says, walking up the wooden steps. 'Mine's the next one up. If you don't like it you can stay in another one, it's pretty quiet right now, end of season, you know.'
    I didn't know that. I don't know anything about Thai seasons. All I know is it's September. I follow him up the steps. An orange and green hammock is hanging from chains on the overhang and two wooden slatted loungers face the beach. He unlocks the door and I turn to the water. 
    Panic . It almost blinds me. I picture a tsunami, the moving wall of it coming right at me while I'm trapped here, throwing me against the building. It's tall as a skyscraper, sweeping this whole hut away in a heartbeat and taking me with it. I must make some kind of sound because Ben's beside me in a second. 
    'Izzy?'
    I can't even speak as I grip the railing. The water is calm and flat and there's barely a breeze. The chances of it happening again are slim to none. It won't happen again.
    'It won't happen again,' Ben says, making me look at him in surprise. Is he reading my mind? 
    Yes. Of course he is. He's been through it, too.
    He covers my white knuckles with his hand. 'Nothing can hurt you.'
    I suck in a breath, nod my head, look at his big hand over mine. He squeezes it and I can smell him now he's so close. Sunscreen and the ocean and man. I'm an idiot.
    'Do you want to stay in one that's more inland?' he asks and I contemplate it, seriously contemplate it. 'It's not a big deal,' he adds but I shake my head. 
    'I'll be alright,' I say. 'I'm sorry... it's all just a bit...'
    'Don't apologize.' He keeps hold of my hand for a second. 'We have escape routes now, and warning sirens. We get text messages. It's covered.'
    'Really?' 
    'Yes. I'll show you everything, don't worry.' He ushers me into the villa. It's more of a hut, really. It's basic but it's clean. 'The bathrooms are the best,' he says, dropping my hand but leading me towards a door at the back. I can't help smiling a little now; he actually looks excited to show me, like a six-foot version of the enthusiastic kid he was. 'Open... all open!' he beams. 'See?'
    I step through and he's right. There's a small palm tree in a patch of brown earth right between the gray tiled shower and the toilet. There isn't even a mosquito net over the roof; just a wall between me and the jungle. 'This is brilliant,' I tell him, matching his infectious grin. 'I always wanted to look at the stars while I have a wee.'
    He laughs, says the word wee again, shaking his head. He points out the soap dispensers and the fact that no matter which way I turn the taps, the water will probably never get hot. There's a frangipani in the sink, another in the bottom of the toilet. I look for a third... it's there on the