Distant Shores 2: Waves Of Time

Wounds That Don't Heal

(Disclaimer: This chapter deals with serious issues about death that some readers may find disturbing and upsetting, including cancer, miscarriages, hemorrhaging, heart attacks)

Robert's Point of View:

You normally don't share your personal life with anyone; the lone wolf vibe has worked for you so far and you see no reason to change it now.

However as you look across at Coral, you see nothing but kindness in her light green eyes. She gives you a gentle smile and focuses her attention on redoing her strawberry blond hair into a braid. You realize that's she's not pressuring you; she's letting you take your time so that you tell your story when you're ready to.

As much as you want to hate her, you can't. She may annoy you, but her skill and resourcefulness earned her your respect. I mean, it's not everyday someone steals your prized sword. And now that you know she's family- even the annoying feelings are starting to subside. Oddly enough you feel as though you can trust her. You take a deep breath and begin.

"I grew up in Storrs, Connecticut. My father was a history professor at the University of Connecticut. He specialized in the Golden Age of Piracy."

Coral lets out a chuckle.

"Well that figures."

You roll your eyes.

"My father loved history as did my mother. Instead of family vacations to Disneyland, we went to museums and historical sites; the Mystic Seaport Museum of America and the Sea, was my personal favorite. I also enjoyed sailing on the Schooner ARGIA. When I was eight my father let me help the crew hoist the sails. That was my first experience being all hands on deck. Once we casted off, I remember looking at my father and telling him how much I loved the sea; it felt like home. While sailing we got to see the coastlines, islands, and of course the lighthouses. I asked my mother about the lighthouse and she told me, 'treat the lighthouse like your own beacon; it'll guide you through the darkest times, and think of the light as me, watching over you.' That's something I'll never forget."

You have to take a pause because this is where the story starts getting difficult.

"My parents both knew my mother's battle with cancer would be a losing one, but they always made sure that I had a good childhood with them. I felt loved and safe and in my little imagination, nothing bad would ever happen to us. Reality came crashing down when my mother's cancer won; I was nine years old."

You see that Coral is gently wiping her eyes and she whispers to you,

"I'm sorry, Robert. I can't imagine losing a parent that young."

"That saying that time heals all wounds; well that's a bunch of bullshit, girl. And the worst part is that ain't even the half of it."

"Oh."

She shifts in her chair to get more comfortable with her baby bump before she looks at you to continue.

"Life was definitely different after my mother had passed. My father did the best he could, but he wasn't great at the whole dating thing; because of that I became a loner in high school. I never had the balls to ask anyone to prom and I didn't give a rat's ass about football games. I just kept my nose in the books, particularly books about sword fighting techniques. I would always ask my father questions about his lectures because I was slowly getting more interested in piracy. When my father deemed me mature enough, he bought me my first piece of steel. I practiced everyday. Sword fighting came naturally to me. I was quick and powerful with the blade and no one could best me."

Coral arches an eyebrow at you as you huff and correct yourself.

"Present company excluded. But man, there were a few basketball jocks I wish I could've gone a round or two with. Stupid public school.... Anyway things weren't much better in college either, at least until I met Nicole during our sophomore year. We bumped into each other at the university's library. She was a journalism major and dreamed about reporting historical findings and exploring the world. I was a history major who wanted to discover the next great mystery of the past. We hit it off instantly. She was smart, funny, kind, and hands down the most beautiful girl I ever saw in my life. For the rest of sophomore year and junior year we were inseparable. She was everything I'd been waiting for and more. She's the first and only girl I ever fell in love with."