But Claire was nowhere in sight.
At first, I assumed she had gone into the water.
I scanned the waves, expecting her head to appear above the surface. I imagined her laughing when she realized I was searching for her.
Then I noticed Noah standing alone at the edge of the sea.
He was staring at the water, completely motionless.
“Where’s your mother?” I asked.
He did not answer.
His face had lost all its color.
That was the moment fear entered my body.
By sunset, lifeguards, police officers, volunteers, and other families were searching the beach.
Boats moved across the dark water while powerful lights swept over the waves.
Search teams continued for four days.
They found nothing.
No clothing.
No personal belongings.
No body.
Eventually, the authorities concluded that Claire had probably drowned and been carried out by the current.
The ocean had taken her, they said.
