“You’re lucky, this was my last set of flippers in ‘S’.” The scuba shop manager placed the pair of rubber flippers on the service desk between him and Zoe, alongside the mask. He eyed Zoe, fiddling with the zip on her full-body diving wet suit. “Tell me again why you’re diving in the winter?”

  “I feel like it,” Zoe shrugged. “Wanted to enjoy my time off before going back to work next week.”

  The shop manager nodded at Ever. “Do you need any gear before you go and dive with her?”

  “Oh I’m not going,” Ever said, “I can’t swim.”

  “What?” The shop manager said, leaning in. “You know that you should always have a partner when you’re going scuba diving.”

  “‘Should’ doesn’t mean ‘must’,” Zoe said dismissively. She fiddled with the valve on the oxygen tank at her feet, letting a bit of gas hiss out. “Besides, I’m not going in super deep.”

  The shop owner shook his head and crossed his arms. “Well, as long as you’ve signed the waiver form, your life’s in your own hands.”

  —-

  “Are you sure you’ll be OK?”

  “For the last time, yes, I’ll be fine.” Zoe reached over and put her hand on his lap. “I know what I’m doing.”

  “That store manager said that you should have a partner when you dive.”

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  “Yes, he did.”

  “Why?”

  “Because…” Zoe said, looking at the winding coastal road through the windshield, “...look, you can come with me. You just have to be in reaper form. That will work, right?”

  “That’s what I’m going to do.”

  “OK, good.”

  “Your destination is ahead on the right hand side,” the GPS said. Ever’s gripped the fluffy steering wheel a little tighter.

  “You said that we would make the most of our time together.”

  “And we are. This is just something I need to do for me.”

  “What if you get in trouble down there?”

  “Ever, I’m not going to d–” she looked out the side window. “I’m not going to get in trouble. I promise.” She hooked his pinky with hers, giving it a good squeeze.

  —--

  “Here, let me hold the oxygen tank for you.”

  “Mm-mm.” Zoe shook her head. “It’ll become weightless once I actually get deep enough.” She hefted it onto her back and walked awkwardly away from her car, flippers slapping the asphalt.

  Ever gave a quick, cursory scan around the parking lot; their car was one of three, all spaced out. He quickly changed forms, floating anxiously by Zoe’s side. Together, they made it to the water’s edge.

  “Give me a kiss,” Zoe said. To anyone watching, she was seen to pout to no one in particular. After doing this, she put the breathing mouthpiece into her mouth. She started walking into the water and immediately looked like she was struggling. It wasn’t too late; if Ever changed back now, he could still drag her back to safety.

  Instead he watched his girlfriend get deeper and deeper into the water until she was able to float horizontally on the surface. Then, with a quick, little thrust, she kicked her flippers up, pushing herself down into the murky, icy depths.