Bound by the Sea

Chapter 1: The Encounter

Leb leaned against the railing of the ship, his eyes scanning the endless expanse of the ocean. The salty breeze ruffled his hair, and the sun cast a golden glow on the rolling waves. He had always felt at home on the sea, the vastness of it mirroring the vastness of his dreams.

His solitude was interrupted by the sound of footsteps. Turning, he saw a figure approaching – a young man with dark, windswept hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed to hold the depth of the ocean itself. Leb had seen him around the ship before, always keeping to himself, always seeming a bit out of place.

"Hi," Leb said, offering a friendly smile. "I'm Leb. I don't think we've officially met."

The young man hesitated, then nodded. "Dhaby," he said, his voice soft but steady. "Nice to meet you."

They stood in silence for a moment, the sound of the waves filling the gap between them. Dhaby's gaze was fixed on the horizon, and Leb couldn't help but feel a pang of curiosity about this enigmatic stranger.

"Do you sail often?" Leb asked, trying to break the ice.

Dhaby shook his head. "No, this is my first time. I'm... looking for something."

Leb raised an eyebrow. "Looking for what?"

Dhaby turned to him, his eyes locking onto Leb's with an intensity that took him by surprise. "A place where I belong," he said simply.

Leb felt a strange connection to Dhaby in that moment, a sense that they were both searching for something, both adrift in their own ways. He decided then and there that he would get to know this mysterious newcomer better.