Whispers Of The Sea // Will Turner

A Night Of Unrest

The ship swayed gently beneath my feet as I made my way down the narrow corridor. The wooden walls seemed to close in around me, amplifying the sound of my heartbeat in my ears. I wasn't sure why I was heading to the lower deck—perhaps to check on Elizabeth, to see how she was faring after our escape from Isla de Muerta.

As I approached the door to the makeshift infirmary, I heard soft voices from within. Will's voice, low and soothing, reached my ears first, followed by Elizabeth's, weak but filled with a warmth that sent a pang through my chest.

I hesitated just outside the door, my hand hovering over the handle. I should've knocked, should've announced my presence, but something held me back. Instead, I pressed my ear to the door, listening.

"Hold still, Lizzy," Will murmured. "This will sting a bit."

There was a brief silence, followed by a sharp intake of breath from Elizabeth. "It's nothing," she whispered. "I've faced worse."

I closed my eyes, picturing Will wrapping her hand, his touch gentle, his eyes filled with concern. It was a sight I'd seen before, countless times, and it always brought a strange, conflicting mix of emotions. But this time, the ache was sharper, more painful, because I knew what it meant.

"Thank you," Elizabeth said softly, her voice barely audible over the sound of the waves.

"For what?" Will asked, his tone puzzled.

"For everything," she replied, her voice trembling slightly. "For coming after me, for risking everything..."

I heard the rustle of clothing, and I knew without looking that Will had taken her hand in his. The silence that followed was heavy, charged with an emotion I couldn't bear to witness.

When I finally opened my eyes, I caught a glimpse of them through the narrow crack in the door. Will was leaning close to Elizabeth, his hand still wrapped around hers. And then, with a tenderness that made my heart twist painfully in my chest, he kissed her.

The world seemed to tilt beneath me, the floor shifting as if the ship had suddenly hit rough waters. I took a step back, my hand flying to my mouth to stifle the gasp that threatened to escape. I felt as though something inside me had shattered, the jagged pieces cutting deep as they fell.

I should have turned and walked away, but my feet were rooted to the spot. I couldn't look away from the scene before me—Will, with his arms around Elizabeth, and her leaning into his embrace, their pain and relief woven into that single, heartbreaking kiss.

My chest tightened, the air thick and suffocating as I finally forced myself to move. I turned away from the door, walking silently back down the corridor, my footsteps barely making a sound on the wooden floor. The ache in my chest grew with each step, until it felt as though I couldn't breathe.

When I reached the deck, I stumbled blindly, not caring where I was going. My vision blurred with tears that I refused to let fall, my breath coming in short, uneven gasps. I didn't stop until I reached the barrels of rum stacked near the ship's stern. There, in the shadow of the mast, I let the tears come.

I sank to the floor, my back pressed against the rough wood, and buried my face in my hands. The sobs that tore from my throat were silent, the pain too deep to give voice to. I cried for everything I'd lost, for everything I'd never had, and for the love I could never claim.

For so long, I'd kept these feelings buried, hidden beneath layers of duty and pride. But now, in the stillness of the night, with no one around to see me, I allowed myself to break. I cried until I had no tears left, until my body shook with the force of my grief, and still, the pain remained.