Stranded 5

There is so much to remember about being on the island.  So many experiences, so many individual memories.  But certain ones really stick out.  Certain ones I can always relive.  I can close my eyes and be there again, letting it happen in front of me.

I think three stand out the most.  The first is Tyler, as you already have seen what it does to me.

The second I will tell you later.  Now is not the right time.

And the third is the sound.

It is a good sound.

Repeatedly crashing waves.  I could keep my eyes closed and listen to it for hours.

And I did.  All the time.  It is that one soothing sound that always calms me down. 

Even now, years after.  I still hear it in my sleep.  It’s like putting those huge headphones on and turning your iPod on loop to your favorite song.  But each time it is slightly different because no two waves are alike.

I mean it’s not like we had huge waves.  They were pretty pathetic compared to the ones we see up here in ocean city.  But the noise they made, that gentle rush.  That is what I loved.

I remember hearing it for the first time.  It harmonized with Tyler voice.  It was that perfect mix.

And I heard it with Dylan.  I remember waking up that second time, when I didn’t know his name but he had the huge smile on his face.  That smile he always had.  The one that said, “I’m here for you.”



Wait a minute.

Is that why I love the sound so much?  Does it remind me of Dylan?  Does it make me remember him and all the good times we shared?

That’s a good question.

Or is it really Tyler that I want from the island?

Then why can’t I call Tyler?

I dunno.  But let’s take this back again.  Let’s go to where I left off.



My name is Luke Gray and I had to find my brother.



761 before being rescued.



I woke up a few hours before when the sun was just peaking through the trees behind me.  My head was still hurting, but definitely not as much as yesterday.  So I just laid there and took everything in. 

I think this was the first time I really was able to hear the ocean.  To sit back and let the noise take over my body, though in such a different way than you’d think.

I had no idea where I was.  I mean I knew I was on a beach and the ocean was in front of me.  I knew this boy named Dylan was still asleep a few feet away from me. 

But where in the world was I?  Who was around me?  What is there on this island?  What has been found so far?

It was all unknown to me.

But specifically, I didn’t know anyone else.

I knew Tyler.

Well sort of.

He showed interest in my well being yesterday.  And I could probably point him out if there were a bunch of people gathered.

But everyone else, the ones Dylan referred to as ‘the others’.  I had no idea who they were or if they even knew who I was.

It was like going to a bad party with someone you only met once before.  Where there’s no one you really want to talk to and you don’t even know what to say to the one you are with.  So you just keep to yourself.

That is what I was doing.  Keeping to myself.

Because I wasn’t going to go around and introduce myself to everyone until Dylan woke up.  He seemed very friendly and aware of everything.  So I’ll let him do it.  I’ll let him show me around.



I specifically remember first hearing the ocean and how I found it repetitively annoying.  I was searching for the mute button.  It was that annoying distant music from your neighbor where you can only hear the bass.

I wanted it to stop.  I was waiting for Dylan to wake up and until then I wanted to pass time.  I tried to fall back asleep.  But in those first few days, that ocean noise was such a hindrance.  I only wanted to fall back asleep to pass time.  But I just couldn’t.



Oh how things have changed.



Dylan – Hey.

He finally woke up.

I sat up.

Luke – Hey.

Dylan – I wasn’t sure if you were awake.  You’re eyes were open but you weren’t really looking at anything.

Luke – Oh, yeah I was just thinking.

Dylan – About what?

Luke – About...

Should I really complain to him about the noise?  That it was keeping me from sleeping.

No.  I don’t want to appear a complainer.

Though he attempted to finish my sentence for me.

Dylan – About your brother?

Oh fuck.

That got me up.

Dylan – Oh, I am sorry.  I didn’t mean to upset you.

Luke – Did they find him?

Dylan – Um, I don’t know.  I don’t think so as of last night. 

I stood up.

It was a good feeling to be able to do that again.

Luke – I need to find him.

Dylan – Okay.  I’ll come with you.

At that point I only wanted to be alone and find my brother.  But Dylan showed interest and did want to help me.  So I figured it couldn’t hurt to let him join me.

Cause maybe he’d become a friend.  And if I was going to be stuck wherever this was, I might as well start everything off on the right foot.

Plus if I ran into anyone, I didn’t want to go through that awkward ‘Who are you?’

So I gave him an approving look and allowed him to join me.

Luke – Where can we start looking?

Dylan – Um, I’m not really sure.  I didn’t explore too much yesterday like the others.

Luke – Well what were you doing?

He stuttered a little bit.

Dylan – Uh, just you know.

Luke – Um no.  I was passed out all day.

Dylan – Oh, yeah.  Well, they told me to just watch over you.

Luke – Oh.  Well, uh, thanks.

He looked pleased with himself.

Dylan – Sure.

I turned towards the trees and walked deep into them.

Dylan – Wait, Luke, shouldn’t we talk to the others and see what they found and maybe if they saw your brother.

Luke – His name is Kyle and no.  They aren’t helpful.  If they were, they would have found him by now.

Dylan – Oh.  Right.

He quickly caught up to me.

Dylan – Why are we looking in the trees?

Luke – What do you mean?

Dylan – Well we all washed up on the shore.  Shouldn’t we be looking there for your brother?

Luke – Call him Kyle and I guess.  You make a good point.

I looked at him.  He was again happy with my agreement with him.

Luke – Alright, well you lead the way.

Dylan – Okay.

We walked back to the beach and started walking in the opposite direction than Tyler went the day before.

Dylan – Don’t you think we should find something to eat and drink before we go off?

Luke – No, when we find my brother than we can eat.

Dylan – Oh, okay.

Luke – You can go though.  Nothing is saying you have to follow me.

Dylan – No, its okay.  I promised you I would help you find your brother.



He didn’t say much for about ten minutes of walking.

Dylan – How is your head feeling?

Luke – Uh, its fine.

Dylan – It doesn’t hurt anymore?

Luke – A little.  But I am not worried about that.  My brother is missing, remember?

Dylan – Oh. Yeah.  I was just asking.



I regret the way I acted those first few days.  Dylan was extremely kind to me.  More so than anyone has ever been to me, even now.  But at the time, my desire was simple: find my brother.

I couldn’t let anything get in my way.  I was so incredibly determined.  I knew he was alive.  I felt it.  I never could give in and admit he was gone.  I couldn’t give in to that fate.  It was just not part of me.