WHY? Maui Day 5

My sweetheart died on February 21, 2024. My heart is broken. The day started out great. We woke up, and Eric was making breakfast. We decided to spend another day at the beach. Dwight and Eric wanted to snorkel. 

We arrived at the beach and found our space. There were quite a few people at Black Rock Beach. Eric kissed me and said, "I love you; see you soon." I said, "I love you and better see you soon." This was different for Frenchie to say that to me. I have told him for years that when someone passes away, he should never say goodbye, always say, 'See you soon.'

Jori took this picture of

Dwight and Eric as they walked off.

Eric was dead within an hour.

Jori and I settled in. I put on my headphones and relaxed. Soon, two women ran down the beach, yelling, "Jori or Monya?" Jori answered them, and we were running toward Dwight in a panic. I immediately knew something was wrong with Eric, and my heart started beating hard. He was lying on the beach, and paramedics were working on him. I stood by while paramedics worked on him for what seemed an hour. It was scary; I was screaming through my tears, "Don't leave me, Eric. Wake up, please." or "Heavenly Father, please don't take him from me." I begged and pleaded while listening to this machine say, "Start compressions" and then "Stop compressions." A very kind policeman stood by my side when he said, "There is nothing more we can do; he is gone. I'm so sorry we are calling it at 12:45." I dropped to my knees, yelling, and now hysterically crying, "No, please, no. Keep trying."

I watched as they wrapped Eric in something to carry him to the ambulance. The policeman walked with me to the ambulance. I kept thinking. "What is happening? This can't be true. We arrived at what looked like a garage (holding area for the dead). The paramedics got Eric out of the ambulance, and the policeman got me a chair and then said, "You can stay with him for as long as you want." I thought, as long as I wanted ...? Maybe he'll wake up if he feels my warm body on him. I began rubbing his chest and arms with my hands, praying for him to wake up ... why wasn't he listening to me ... WAKE UP, PLEASE, WAKE UP ... my voice fell on deaf ears, and my tears fell on his face as I held him close.

Soon, Jori and Dwight showed up but gave me space and time to say, "See you soon."

Jori took this picture from behind me. 

Dwight and I shared some exhausting

tears. A very kind Hawaiian woman

wiped the sand off Eric's face.

We stayed until the paramedics returned and told us they had another call. We would have to say our 'goodbyes.' Then they wheeled him into a room with another dead body. My head was spinning. I am so grateful to Jori and Dwight for being with us. Jori took some notes from the other policeman standing with us. All I could think about was him being in that little closet with another body. The next thing I knew, I was on the ground and pretty sure I took Jori down with me; I fainted and not very gracefully. I felt so bad for Jori, and I was pretty embarrassed. 

I called Blake to tell him on our ride back to the resort. This surprised Jori and Dwight, who now tell me we had decided not to call him until we were safe in the resort condo. Blake asked me, "What's wrong?" When he heard me crying, I said, "Blake dad died today." He raised his voice and said, "What? Nooo." I handed the phone to Jori because I could not talk.