24. Maya

Chapter twenty-four

Maya

S everal days have passed, and our team is out on the reef again, collecting samples and marking areas that need the most attention. The salty breeze whips through my hair as I lean over the side of the boat, peering into the clear blue water. Each dive reveals more about the damage the poachers have caused, but it also brings hope as we see signs of resilience in the coral and marine life.

"Jim, how's the sample collection going?" I call out.

"Pretty good, Maya. The coral here is in worse shape than our initial samples, but there are some signs of recovery."

I nod, jotting down notes in my notebook. Beside me, Levi steers the boat toward our next dive spot, his focus unwavering.

"Levi, can you take us a bit closer to that outcrop?" I ask, pointing to a particularly vibrant section of the reef. "I want to get a closer look at those corals."

"Sure thing," he replies, maneuvering the boat with ease.

Hank and Lori are busy checking the equipment and organizing the markers we'll use to highlight the critical areas for the cleanup divers. The air is filled with the hum of the boat's engine and the occasional chatter from the team, a comforting rhythm that keeps us all grounded in our mission.

As we near the outcrop, I slip into the water, the coolness a welcome relief from the sun's heat. Underneath, the reef stretches out in a breathtaking display of colors and textures. Despite the damage, the beauty of the underwater world never fails to amaze me. I take my time examining the coral, noting areas of bleaching and places where marine life is starting to return.

Back on the boat, we review our findings. "This area definitely needs immediate attention," I say, pointing to the worst-hit spots on the map. "We should prioritize it for the cleanup."

"Agreed," Lori says, marking the locations. "We'll make sure the divers know to focus here."

Each day as we pass different islands, we take the opportunity to check on the turtle nests. It's a routine that's become second nature—one of us scanning the shore while the others continue with our reef work. Today, it's Levi's turn. He grabs the binoculars and peers through them, his brow furrowing in concentration.

"How do they look?" I ask, curious.

"Pretty good," he says, lowering the binoculars. "A few more hatched last night. Looks like the efforts to protect the nests are paying off."

"That's great news," Hank says, smiling. "Every hatchling counts."

By the time we finish our work for the day, the boat is filled with samples, and we're all ready for some rest. The ride back to the center is a quiet one, each of us lost in our thoughts. Despite the exhaustion, there's a sense of accomplishment in the air.

As we dock, I catch Levi's eye and smile. "It was a good day."

"I can see the difference we're making," he says with a warm smile.

We unload the boat, carrying the samples and equipment back to the lab. Once everything is stored and the data logged, we gather for a quick debrief.

"Great work today, everyone," I say, looking around at the team. "We've been working hard and since tomorrow is Saturday let's take the weekend to relax or go have some fun, you've earned it.

The team disperses, and I find myself standing alone with Levi. "Let's go have a drink," he says. "I have something I want to talk to you about."

Levi's suggestion catches me off guard, but I nod, feeling a flutter of anticipation. "Sure, let's go."

We head to a small beachside bar, a favorite spot among locals and conservationists alike. The place has a relaxed, welcoming vibe, with lanterns hanging from the ceiling and soft music playing in the background. We find a cozy corner on the patio and settle in, ordering two drinks.

Levi leans back in his chair, looking thoughtful. "Maya, I've been thinking a lot about what happens next."

I tilt my head, curious. "Next?"

"Yeah, with the project wrapping up soon, I'm wondering what your plans are. Where do you see yourself going after this?"

The question hangs in the air, heavy with unspoken concerns. I take a sip of my drink, gathering my thoughts. "I haven't really decided yet. This project has been my main focus, and I guess I haven't thought much beyond it."

Levi nods, his eyes searching mine. "I get that. But I can't help but think about what happens to us. Working together has brought back a lot of old feelings, and I don't want to lose what we've found here."

My heart races as his words sink in. "I've been thinking about that too. Being here, doing this work with you, it's felt right. But I don't know what the future holds. I don't even know if there will be another project like this one."

Levi leans forward, his expression earnest. "I've really missed having you in my life, Maya."

I feel a lump forming in my throat. His sincerity is disarming, and I find myself opening up in a way I haven't in a long time. "I've missed you too, Levi. But I'm scared. What if we try and it doesn't work out? What if we end up hurting each other again?"

He reaches across the table, taking my hand in his. "We can't predict the future, but we can make decisions that feel right for us now. We've faced so much together already. Maybe this time, we can make it work."

I look into his eyes, seeing the depth of his feelings and the hope that mirrors my own. "I want to believe that. I really do."

Levi squeezes my hand gently. "Like we agreed, let's take it one step at a time. And if something doesn't feel right, we'll talk about it. No more assumptions, no more running away."

A wave of relief washes over me. "I'd like that. Taking things slow, figuring it out together."

He smiles, a warmth spreading across his face. "Okay, we at least agree we should give "us" a chance," he says with a chuckle. "Now, I'm starving, how about we order some burgers?"

While we wait for our burger and fries, we sip our drinks and now it's my turn to ask the questions.

"What about you?" I ask, breaking the silence. "What are your plans after the project?"

Levi looks thoughtful. "I plan to return to doing my yacht tours, after all that's what my life has been since I was young. I love the sea and being in and on the water. But I have to admit, working with OceanLife has been fulfilling. I'd consider working with the center on another job if an opportunity comes up. This work is important to me, and it feels like there's still so much more to do."

"That sounds like you've got a pretty good plan," I say, feeling a sense of calm settling over me. "And maybe, just maybe, we can find a way to make this work."

Levi nods, his eyes full of determination. "I believe we can."

***

We finish our burgers, and head down to the beach, which has become a regular routine for us.

Levi and I stroll along the beach as the waves crash gently against the shore. The air is warm, and the salty breeze carries the scent of the ocean, calming my thoughts after another long day. As we walk, we notice a familiar figure up ahead—a local fisherman we often see casting his line into the surf. He's always been friendly, exchanging a few words with us whenever we pass by.

"Hey, look, there's Stanley," I say, nudging Levi with my elbow. "I wonder how the fishing's been today."

Levi squints toward the fisherman, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

As we approach, Stanley spots us and waves us over. His beach wagon, filled with fishing gear, sits beside him. But it's not the usual sight of his tackle and bait that catches my eye—it's a coffee cup perched on top of the wagon. Something about the way he gestures toward it makes me curious.

"Afternoon guys," Stanley greets us with a grin. "You two are just in time."

"In time for what?" I ask, my curiosity piqued as I notice the tiny creature inside the cup. My heart skips a beat when I realize it's a baby green turtle, its small flippers barely moving in the shallow water.

"Stanley, why do you have a turtle in that cup?" I ask, a hint of alarm in my voice. The last thing I want is to think he's keeping it as some sort of pet. "These little guys need to be in the ocean."

Stanley quickly waves his hands, shaking his head. "No, no! It's not like that," he says, his tone reassuring. "I tried releasing it into the water, but the tide is too strong. Every time it swims out, the waves push it right back onto the shore. The poor thing got too tired to keep trying, so I put it in this cup to keep it safe until I could get some help."

Relief washes over me as I realize he's only trying to help. Levi and I exchange a glance, both of us feeling the same surge of concern for the little hatchling.

"Have you contacted Fish and Wildlife?" Levi asks, leaning closer to get a better look at the tiny turtle.

Stanley nods. "I called them right away. Told them where I was and what was happening. The turtle patrol volunteers came by earlier before I found the hatchling, and I'm hoping they'll return soon. The poor little guy was struggling so hard, and I didn't want to just leave him."

"You did the right thing," I say, my worry turning into determination. "Levi, why don't we jog down the beach and see if we can catch up with the turtle patrol? They might still be checking on some of the other nests."

Levi gives me a quick nod. "Good idea, let's go."

We take off down the beach, our feet kicking up sand as we break into a jog. I can feel the adrenaline pumping through me, driving me forward despite the fact that I'm not exactly in peak jogging condition. I glance at Levi, who's breathing hard but keeping pace beside me.

"How out of shape are we?" I puff out, half-laughing as we push ourselves to keep going.

"No kidding," Levi replies between breaths. "But hey, it's for a good cause."

Fortunately, we spot the turtle patrol volunteers not too far down the beach, their ATV parked beside one of the nests. By the time we reach them, both of us are completely out of breath, but there's no time to waste.

"Hey!" I call out, waving my arms to get their attention. "We need your help—there's a hatchling up the beach that can't make it past the tide!"

One of the volunteers, a woman in her mid-thirties, immediately jumps into action. "Where is it?"

I quickly explain where Stanley is fishing and how he's been trying to keep the hatchling safe. The volunteers exchange a quick look, then hop onto their ATV.

"Thanks for letting us know. We'll head there right now," the woman says, giving us a nod of appreciation before they speed off down the beach.

Levi and I stand there, panting and laughing at our own out-of-shape state. "I think we might need to add some cardio to our routine," I joke, my breath slowly returning to normal.

"No kidding," Levi chuckles, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "But I'd say that's enough exercise for one day."

We turn and start walking back in the direction we came, taking it slow this time. As we get closer we can see the turtle patrol volunteers talking with Stanley and the hatchling carefully being transferred to a small, protective container.

"Looks like they've got it!" I say, feeling a rush of relief and joy.

As the volunteers meet up with us they give us a thumbs-up. "The little guy looks strong. We'll take care of him until the tide calms down, then we'll try releasing him again. You did good by bringing this to our attention."

"Thank you," I reply, smiling at their professionalism and care.

We catch up with Stanley, who looks pleased with how things turned out. "Thanks for keeping the hatchling safe," I say, my gratitude clear in my voice. "You've done more than most would."

Stanley shrugs modestly. "It's nothing. I just wanted to see the little guy make it, you know."

"You're right," Levi agrees, nodding. "We're actually working on a project to help protect the turtles and restore the coral reefs around here. It's been a long process, but stories like this show how important it is."

Stanley's face brightens. "If you ever need an extra pair of hands for one of your events, let me know. I'd hate to think one day we might not have any turtles here."

"That would be great," I say, excited at the prospect of having more local support. "We'll definitely keep you in the loop."

As we walk away, I feel a sense of accomplishment. This little event might not seem like much, but it's moments like these that remind me of the importance of community involvement in our work. Levi and I exchange a look, both of us knowing we'll share this story with others to help raise awareness. It's a small victory, but every win counts when it comes to saving these incredible creatures.