My phone vibrated inside my dress pocket, and I was tempted to ignore it, but I ended up reaching for it anyway. Papa: Happy birthday, angel. Sorry I missed it. Business as usual. We’ll celebrate when I get home. Another message came in. Papa: Have fun tomorrow. Carter is good for you. I put my phone back in my pocket and replaced my earrings with synthetic blue diamonds. I imagined them glittering like the Heart of the Ocean as the sea dragged me down, forever suspending me in gasping breaths, pearl necklaces, and the lonely sounds of the ocean. It was what convinced me. Tomorrow, I’d be in Russia. OceanofPDF.com