close your eyes and feel me

26

By the time the Captain came back to their cabins, the two friends had fallen asleep. The sea must've calmed down because the room was no longer spinning. The smell of sweat and other nuisances, alongside all of their belongings being tossed across the room, were the only things reminding them of the horrors of the night before.

Because it was now a new day, the sun was just setting when the door opened, leading the captain of the ship inside. He too seemed to be a mess from the events and grunted as he lowered himself down to gently brush Charlotte's shoulder.

''Ma'am, ma'am, wake up.''

Waking up in an urge, confused, her heartbeat going as fast as possible, Charlotte got up. While doing so, the head of Georgianna, who was resting on her friend's shoulder, almost hit the ground before she too woke up in confusion.

''By God!'' Cried out Charlotte, her hands on her knees while breathing out loud, '' What on Earth happened?''

'' The sea, ma'am, the sea happened.'' Answers the man.

Brushing her dress in a fake attempt of dignity, Georgianna got up as well. Looking at the porthole, she saw the water, blue as the sky, calm. « I don't recall my first trip to be this difficult,» she says, her eyes locked on the outside. Her heart knew then that this was no London Thames, this isn't even the Atlantic. The water outside was the Caribbean Sea. Georgianna knew then that she was finally home. She had made it back.

« Yes, well, the sea get's to choose who passes and who doesn't. »

« Feels like we almost didn't » snarked Charlotte, putting her hair in a ponytail with her hands, finally freeing her hair from her sticky neck. Was it sweat, was it water, was it something else, Charlotte did not want to know. She too gave a look over the porthole and to the water. Unlike her friend, who was looking outside with love and admiration, she was looking at the water with envy. If she knew how to swim well enough, she would be cleaning herself up as we speak.

« I came to tell you ladies that we've arrived. My men are taking an hour to clean up the mess on the boat until we go to port. You two can take that time to clean up... yourselves. »

''Thank you, captain. For everything. »

The man left the two women in their cabin and an hour later, both of them had a clean dress on and had splashed some fresh, clean water on their faces. They were still in need of a deep cleanse in a bath, but they were presentable enough.

On the docks, belongings in hands, both Charlotte and Georgianna were blinded by the brightness of the sun. The saltiness of the sea was in the air, mixed with the smell of freshly caught fishes and you could also smell some meat being cooked nearby. The port was full of people, either vendors or fishermen. Charlotte was not prepared to see what was in front of her. She had never seen so many people looking like Georgianna, nor had she ever seen a landscape similar to this. If she had gone to the beach, Sanditon was nothing compared to Antigua. The water was not this dark blue, like in England, but rather a bright, transparent colour where you could see to the bottom.

If the environment was standing out for her, she could feel that they were the ones standing out for the people. Weird looks were given in their way, brows were risen and quickly, an uncomfortable silence caught everyone.

Although it did make sense. Here they were; a black woman dressed as a rich white woman - at least in their minds- and a white woman dressed in a dress of less quality than her. Both of them looked exhausted and you could still see the sweat on their neck dripping. Instead of elegant hairstyles, their hairs were free on their backs, gently being brushed by the wind. Plus, they were both unaccompanied, which was even more scandalous.

« well, that's a nice welcome... » mumbled Georgianna to her friend.

Turning her head to answer, Charlotte has time to only open her mouth that a voice call for her name.

« Charlotte? » says the voice, stunned.

Knowing this voice anywhere, Charlotte's heart skipped a beat as she turned around. Her breath is taken away, she too is stunned. There he is, the love of her life, standing in front of her.

« Sidney. » Charlotte mumbles, dropping everything on the ground before running to him, her eyes still locked in his. He is still frozen there, shock painted on his face.

Only when she jumps into his arms does he snap back to reality. She desperately grabs him by the neck and buries her face in it. Letting a long, heavy breath out of her mouth, he could feel the warmth on him. Her skin, touching his, her hair, gently touching his cheekbone and neck. Charlotte's body pressed on his, he lifted her by the waist and drew her closer, if it was even possible, into an even tighter embrace. Eyes closed, Sidney took it all in.

Once Charlotte's feet touched the ground again, his hands found their way onto the back of her neck, all the way up to her cheeks he then cupped. She was touching him too, both her hands resting on his forearms firmly. Sidney's eyes were shining brightly, with even more love than she had seen him look at her with before. Charlotte thought that nothing could ever be better than this feeling, that this was the peak of happiness, but then, Sidney kissed her and proved her wrong.

His lips crashed onto hers in a long, deep kiss. It was nothing like their first kiss or any that followed after. It wasn't even half as good as their kiss before he had left when they were no longer ashamed or drunk or anything else but in love. When Sidney's mouth touched hers, Charlotte felt a sense of relief, as if her soul had been lifted from the ground like someone had restarted her heart and she was a breathing, living thing again. She was kissing the man she had thought lost. She was kissing the man that was supposed to be dead, or sick enough to be soon. After weeks on the water, after sneaking outside the country, while lying to friends and family, risking her reputation and her life, she was finally reunited with the love of her life.

It was no ordinary kiss.