Chapter 1. Scene 1

A cold December wind was blowing, andTheresa Osborne crossed her arms as she stared out over the water. Earlier,when she'd arrived, there had been a few people walking along the shore, butthey'd taken note of the clouds and were long since gone. Now she found herselfalone on the beach, and she took in her surroundings. The ocean, reflecting thecolor of the sky, looked like liquid iron, and waves rolled up steadily on theshore. Heavy clouds were descending slowly, and the fog was beginning to thicken,making the horizon invisible. In another place, in another time, she would havefelt the majesty3 of the beauty around her, but as she stood on the beach, sherealized that she didn't feel anything at all. In a way, she felt as if sheweren't really here, as if the whole thing was nothing but a dream.

She'd driven here this morning, though shescarcely remembered the trip at all. When she'd made the decision to come,she'd planned to stay overnight. She'd made the arrangements and had evenlooked forward to a quiet night away from Boston, but watching the ocean swirland churn made her realize that she didn't want to stay. She would drive homeas soon as she was finished, no matter how late it was.

When she was finally ready, Theresa slowlystarted to walk toward the water. Beneath her arm she carried a bag that shehad carefully packed that morning, making sure that she hadn't forgottenanything. She hadn't told anyone what she carried with her, nor had she toldthem what she'd intended to do today. Instead she'd said that she was goingChristmas shopping. It was the perfect excuse, and though she was sure thatthey would have understood had she told them the truth, this trip was somethingshe didn't want to share with anyone. It had started with her alone, and thatwas the same way she wanted it to end.

Theresa sighed and checked her watch. Soonit would be high tide, and it was then that she would finally be ready. Afterfinding a spot on a small dune that looked comfortable, she sat in the sand andopened her bag. Searching through it, she found the envelope she wanted. Takinga deep breath, she slowly lifted the seal.

In it were three letters, carefullyfolded, letters that she'd read more times than she could count. Holding themin front of her, she sat on the sand and stared at them.

In the bag were other items as well,though she wasn't ready to look at those yet. Instead she continued to focus onthe letters. He'd used a fountain pen when he'd written them, and there weresmudges in various places where the pen had leaked. The stationery, with itspicture of a sailing ship in the upper right hand corner, was beginning todiscolor in places, fading slowly with the passage of time. She knew therewould come a day when the words would be impossible to read, but hopefully,after today, she wouldn't feel the need to look at them so often.

When she finished, she slipped them backinto the envelope as carefully as she'd removed them. Then, after putting theenvelope back into the bag, she looked at the beach again. From where she wassitting, she could see the place where it had all started.