The Bear in the Water

The pool at the Sunset Resort was exactly what you'd expect—chlorine blue, perfectly temperature-controlled, filled with people pretending to be relaxed. Marcus sat at the edge, nursing a gin and tonic that was mostly tonic now, watching the ripples distort his reflection.

Three weeks since Sarah left. Two weeks since he'd lost his job. One week since he'd stopped caring.

"Mind if I sit?"

Marcus looked up to see a woman in her forties, dark hair pulled back, eyes that suggested she'd seen enough to find nothing surprising anymore. "It's a free country," he said, sliding over on the lounge chair.

"I'm Elena."

"Marcus."

They sat in silence for a while. The kind of comfortable silence that comes from two people who are too tired for pretense. Then she gestured toward the giant black bear statue that loomed over the pool area like a grotesque guardian. "That thing's been here since the resort opened in the seventies. Supposedly it's meant to be majestic."

"Looks like it's plotting something," Marcus said.

Elena laughed—a real laugh. "My husband would have hated it. He was an architect. Had strong opinions about everything." She paused. "He died last year."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It's been long enough that I can say it without my voice cracking. That's progress, right?"

Marcus swirled his drink. "My wife left me three weeks ago. Said I was sinking and she couldn't be my lifeline anymore."

"Were you?"

"Sinking?" Marcus looked at the pool, at all the people floating and splashing and pretending life wasn't hard. "I think I just forgot to swim."

Elena nodded, like this made sense to her. "You know, a friend once told me that grief is like learning to walk again after being in a coma. Your muscles remember, but your brain has to relearn everything."

"That's actually helpful."

"I'm full of surprisingly adequate wisdom." She checked her watch. "I should go. My daughter's waiting by the bear statue for her swimming lesson."

"Wait," Marcus said. "Would you—would you want to get dinner? Tomorrow?"

Elena smiled, and for the first time, she looked younger than her years. "I'd like that. But just so you know—I'm not looking for a lifeline."

Marcus stood up, feeling something in his chest shift. "Neither am I. Just someone to swim beside, maybe."

She walked toward the bear statue where a young girl waved excitedly. Marcus watched them, then looked at his phone. Three voicemails from Sarah. He deleted them all, then ordered another drink.