Tetrology Of The Sea - Book 1: From The Sea 🪼✔

Twenty-Six

Shana thought about what Travis had told her as she drove home. He was right and she did deserve to live her own life without having to feel guilty over Aylin. Aylin never made her feel that way but she had made herself that way after the accident. Craig was a dirtbag and he treated her like she was some sort of slut or something. She opened the door and Aylin looked up from the couch.
"So, how was your date?"
"It wasn't a date."
"Yeah it was."
"All we did was eat and talk."
"You don't have to have sex for it to be a date." Aylin said with a smirk.
Shana frowned and put her purse on the table next to the door.
"Well, for your information, it was very nice. We sat and talked and... well, Travis told me something."
"Yeah?"
"He said that I should leave Craig and live my own life."
Aylin's mouth twitched but he put it back into his façade and turned to her.
"Is that so? What do you think about that?"
"I don't know... it's all so strange. I thought that I was doing the right thing for so long and now that he's pointed out how wrong it is, I just don't know what to do. What do you think?"
"I already told you what I thought. This is time for you to use that brain of yours that you keep refusing to do. What does Shana want?"
Shana sighed and ran her hand through her hair.
"I want to... I want to be free."
"Then do it."
"But what about you?"
"What about me? I can live my own life as well. I've been staying here to make sure that creep didn't get handsy."
"What?"
"Shana, do you think I'm that dumb? I know you have been with Craig because you think he's the only friend that I have or something. I can make my own friends just fine but I can't just leave you with that guy. He doesn't make me feel comfortable anymore... Frankly, I'd like to not see him ever again."
"So... so you aren't friends with him anymore?"
"Please, after the incident with this, I stopped caring." He said, pointing to his eye.
"Will you ever tell me what happened that night?"
Aylin looked away like he usually did.
"No."
"Aylin-"
"This is not about me. Seriously, Shana, go tell Craig that you don't want to marry him and then pack up and go somewhere. Somewhere you've always wanted to go or something."
Shana was a little hurt. "Have you wanted me gone all this time?"
Aylin made a face. "I don't want you 'gone', I want you to 'go'; there is a difference. One is of annoyance the other is trying to get you to get out of house... I am the latter. I've watched you suffer for far too long to make you stay here."
"You and Travis both have suggested I leave town."
"It would be best for you."
"But what about you, Aylin? Will you be alright?"
"I can pull my own weight I think."
Shana looked at him and then sighed, not knowing what exactly she should be doing.
"When should I do this?"
"Now if you're smart. Pack it up, go to Craig's house and tell him to screw off... Or, rather, do it in a letter so you can hurry up and go. Then, hop a bus or a plane and just go."
Shana nodded and did just as she was told.

Aylin watched as his sister left for the terminal gate toward her future. He was alone now and it was not like he thought it would be. He knew Shana would be back at some point but he didn't realize how much he truly needed her until she was gone. He got back in the car and started driving home but didn't think that was a good plan. He found himself some time later driving into the driveway of Travis' house. When he realized where he was he frowned at the dim house in front of him. It was not the first place he had wanted to go but it almost felt right to be here. He frowned deeper, not knowing what he should say to him since it was strange for him to be at the house in the first place. He hefted a sigh and got up, walking toward the door and was about to knock when he heard music blaring and put his ear to the door. There was giggling and childish squealing of excitement from inside and Aylin just smiled. He didn't belong here as much as Shana didn't... at least not for now. He couldn't burden Travis with himself and he shouldn't even be bothering him. After all the things he'd done to him, he didn't deserve to be with the happy little family inside.
He turned to leave when the door opened and he looked behind him, startled.
"I thought that was you." Travis said, leaning on the doorjamb. "Why are you creeping around my house?"
"I wasn't." he said with a glare. "I just stopped by."
"For what reason? You could have knocked or something."
"Then how did you know I was here?"
Travis smiled sheepishly, looking away. "The uh, fish in the window told me there was a pirate outside."
Aylin looked at the window and saw the goldfish that he didn't realize was there.
"Plus, the koi were acting all crazy. They thought you were coming to kill us." He said, pointing to the almost invisible koi pond beside the steps to the house.
Aylin squinted his good eye and could barely see the whites of the koi.
"Sorry... I didn't know your fish friends were so in tune with everything. Remind me not to throw a surprise party or something."
"Whatever. What do you want, Aylin?"
Aylin looked around and moved his mouth to the side.
"I really don't know."
Esper ran up to Travis and looked up at who had taken her father's attention and gasped in delight.
"Captain Patchy Patch! Oh, Daddy, can he come in and play with us?"
"I don't think that he's interested in that."
"What are you guys doing?"
"Dancing. Daddy dances really good. Wanna come in and dance with us?"
Travis made a face to his rambunctious daughter and Aylin didn't really want to but she was so cute and was looking at him expectantly. She reminded him of Shana when she was younger and would beg him to play with her.
"Sure..."
The quiet answer caught Travis off guard and his eyes widened at him.
"You-"
"I have something to tell you anyway." Aylin said, striding past him as Esper grabbed his hand and skipped beside him.
Flabbergasted, Travis went inside.

Travis was surprised that Aylin was dancing with Esper to the songs that came on and seemed to enjoying it rather than doing it to appease his daughter. Finally, he seemed to tire out and sat down on the couch, breathing hard.
"You got a beer or something?" Aylin asked with an exhausted laugh.
Travis nodded and got up to get him one. Esper followed her father and he almost ran into her when he turned around.
"Espy."
"Daddy, can I give it to him?"
Travis popped the top and handed it to her gently.
"Hold it tight and don't let it fall."
She nodded and walked slowly with it to her favorite pirate and handed him the beer. Travis saw Aylin touch her head tenderly and Esper smiled joyously. He'd never seen the likes of it before but whatever was happening was good, he decided.
"It's time for bed, sweetie. Say goodnight to Captain Patchy Patch and get a shower."
"Okay. Bye, Captain Patchy Patch, I love you." She said, giving Aylin a quick kiss on the cheek and leaving for the bathroom.
Aylin smirked and watched her leave as Travis sat on the opposite side of the couch cautiously, still unclear about what Aylin was there for. It was only after the water for the shower came on that Aylin sat up and put his beer on the table and put his face in his hands.
"Shana left town... she's going to live her own life now."
Travis gave a small nod. "I see... good for her."
"She left a letter for Craig and she's gone... I honestly don't know what to do without her." Travis looked at him. "She's all I had."
Travis stiffly reached over and patted Aylin on the back.
"She'll be back, I guarantee it. I'm sure you need to move on with your life too... right?"
"Yeah... Thanks for letting me come in. It was nice and your kid is kinda cute... adorable really."
Travis smiled big and nodded. "Yeah, she is."
Aylin made a face and Travis laughed.