The next morning, Will sat at his laptop, scrolling through websites with furrowed brows and a determined expression. His frustration from the day before had turned into a stubborn resolve. After nearly an hour of digging, he found what he was looking for: a company that specialized in underwater searches and recoveries. They had glowing reviews, a range of high-tech equipment, and, most importantly, they were available to take on the job immediately.
He booked them for two days, providing as much detail as he could about the lake, the location, and the size of the medallion. As he hit “Confirm,” he felt a flicker of hope for the first time since the medallion went missing. It wasn’t much, but it was something.
When Will told Stacy about the search team later that morning, she was cautiously optimistic. “It’s a good idea,” she admitted as they sat in the living room while the kids played in the next room. “But even with professional divers, there’s no guarantee they’ll find it.”
“I know,” Will said, his borrowed voice heavy. “But at least I’m doing something. I can’t just sit here and accept this.”
Stacy studied him for a moment, then sighed. “Speaking of accepting things…”
Will raised an eyebrow, already sensing where this was going. “What?”
“If this search doesn’t work,” Stacy said carefully, “you need to start thinking about what comes next. About how you’re going to live your life if we don’t find the medallion.”
Will stared at her, his expression hardening. “You mean, if I’m stuck like this forever.”
Stacy didn’t flinch. “Yes.”
The weight of her words hung between them, but Stacy pressed on. “Will, I know you’re holding onto hope, and that’s good. But you also need to prepare yourself for the possibility that this might be permanent. You can’t live every day hating yourself. You’ll go crazy.”
Will rubbed his temples, feeling a headache forming. “I don’t even know where to start. I don’t feel like myself, Stacy. Everything is… wrong.”
“I get that,” Stacy said, her tone softening. “But if this is your reality, even for now, you’ve got to learn how to live in it. That’s why I’m here. To help.”
Will looked at her skeptically. “Help with what? Learning how to… be you?”
“Exactly,” Stacy said, standing up and gesturing for him to follow her. “Come on. Let’s start with the basics.”
The next few hours were both mortifying and enlightening for Will. Stacy walked him through everything from posture to how to sit comfortably without feeling awkward in her body. She even gave him a crash course on basic makeup, though he outright refused to try it himself.
“Hey, you might need it someday,” she teased, holding up a mascara wand.
“Not happening,” he muttered, crossing his arms. The movement made him uncomfortably aware of his chest, and he quickly dropped them to his sides again.
Despite his resistance, Will couldn’t deny that Stacy’s guidance helped. By the end of the day, he at least felt a little less like a fish out of water—though he was still far from comfortable.
That evening, as they sat together on the couch, Will sighed, his eyes fixed on the floor. “You think I’ll ever get used to this?”
Stacy looked at him thoughtfully. “I think you could, if you had to. It’s not easy, but it’s possible. You’re resilient, Will.”
He glanced at her, his expression conflicted. “I don’t want to get used to it. I just want to be me again.”
“I know,” Stacy said, resting a hand on his shoulder. “But until we find that medallion, you need to take care of yourself. And that starts with accepting where you are now.”
Will didn’t respond immediately, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. Finally, he nodded, though it was clear he wasn’t entirely convinced. “One day at a time, I guess.”
“One day at a time,” Stacy echoed, giving him a small smile.
