As time passed, Alex and Maddie began to find joy in their adversity. They started to appreciate the beauty of their surroundings, the sunsets, and the wildlife. They even began to enjoy the simple things, like watching the stars at night or playing games to pass the time.

You use charcoal from the fire to write on the smooth interior of dried palm husks. You’ve documented five years of weather patterns, bird migrations, and a sprawling, collaborative "novel" of your shared history.

I remember the moment the silhouette appeared. I didn't cheer. I felt a sudden, sharp pang of grief. We stood on the shore, two shadows of the people who had boarded that Cessna. When the inflatable zodiac finally touched the sand and the sailors jumped out, their orange life vests looked impossibly bright—violent, almost—against the muted greens and blues of our world. The Aftermath