𝕊𝕒𝕕𝕖 [𝕆𝕋𝟟 𝔹𝕋𝕊]

Ｃｈａｐｔｅｒ Ｏｎｅ

Sade couldn't help but release a deep, trembling sigh of relief as she passed through the final barrier of the never-ending storm. The moment the roiling black clouds parted to reveal a serene expanse of clear blue sky and calm, glassy waters, it was as if a colossal weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She was no longer a prisoner to the tempest's fury, no longer battling the violent winds and towering waves that had threatened to swallow her whole. For the first time in her life, she was free.

The transition from chaos to calm was so sudden, so jarring, that Sade found herself momentarily breathless, her eyes wide with awe as she took in her surroundings. The sea stretched endlessly in every direction, its surface glittering like a field of sapphires under the bright sun. Above, the sky was a vast dome of unbroken azure, unmarred by even the smallest wisp of cloud. It was a sight so beautiful, so impossibly tranquil, that it brought tears to her eyes.

The last few hours had been a harrowing ordeal. Leaving the safety of her island had meant sailing headfirst into the heart of the storm, navigating through waves that towered like mountains and winds that howled like vengeful spirits. More than once, she had feared she would be thrown overboard, lost forever to the tempest's wrath. But now, as she sailed on smooth, undisturbed waters, the storm was behind her—a dark, distant memory.

Smiling proudly, Sade adjusted the sails, letting the gentle wind guide her. She didn't know where this new path would lead, whether it would bring her to land or carry her further into the unknown expanse of the ocean. But it didn't matter. What mattered was that she had made it. She had dared to defy the storm and emerged victorious. For the first time in her life, she was free.

Sade's journey had begun on an isolated island, nestled in the eye of the never-ending storm. Her tribe had lived there for generations, protected by the fierce weather that kept invaders and outsiders at bay. Life on the island was peaceful and predictable, a cycle of routine and tradition. The storm, while terrifying, was also a guardian, ensuring that the people of the island remained undisturbed and safe.

But Sade had never felt safe. Not truly. She had lost her parents to a plague when she was only two years old, a disease that had swept through the island with deadly speed. Though a cure was quickly found, sparing many lives, her parents had been among the unfortunate few who perished. After their deaths, her grandparents had taken her in, raising her with love and care.

Yet, even surrounded by family and the familiar comforts of her island home, Sade had always felt an unshakable sense of restlessness. To her, the storm was not a protective barrier but a prison wall, hemming her in and stifling her spirit. While others found contentment in the rhythms of island life, Sade yearned for something more. She dreamed of the world beyond the storm, of lands untouched by its fury, of mountains that scraped the sky, and animals unlike any she had ever seen. She wondered what it would be like to walk through bustling cities, to meet people who spoke different languages and followed different customs.

Sade had always known she would leave the island one day. The desire to explore, to discover, burned too brightly within her to be ignored. Her grandparents had been the only reason she stayed as long as she did. After her grandmother passed away, there was nothing left to hold her back. The day she said her final goodbyes, she had already made up her mind. She would set sail, brave the storm, and find her way to whatever lay beyond.

And now, here she was, her small boat cutting through the placid waters of an unknown sea. The storm was a distant, menacing presence on the horizon, a reminder of the trials she had faced and overcome. But ahead lay possibility—vast, uncharted, and infinitely inviting.

With a steady hand on the tiller and the wind at her back, Sade sailed on, her heart filled with hope and determination. She didn't know what the future held, but for the first time in her life, she was free to find out.

Word Count: 735
None of the images in this fic belongs to me.