Elisabeth

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

After 3 days on the raft

'So will you ever tell me how you came on the island?' Will asked her, hoping she was bored and felt like telling him something.

'Why should I?' She asked. Not feeling like letting her emotions flood freely.

'Alright;' He let out a deep, dramatic sigh. 'I'll go first.'  He shifted on the raft.

'I was talking with my dad about the marriage-idea and, as usual, we got into a fight about it. I told him eightteen was way too young to marry, and that no girl would want to marry at the age of eightteen either. I mean, everyone wants to live before settling down.' Elisa smiled, giving him a look. 'What?' Will asked, acting innocent.

'Oh come on, you can go anywhere when you are married, it's not like you have to settle down.' Elisa exclaimed. Will rolled his eyes.  

'But as soon as she gets pregnant you have to settle down. You can't go bungee jumping with a baby in your arms now can you?' Elisa frowned.

'So you get pregnant when you marry?' She asked.

'No, but a lot of married people want to have a baby.'

'But you don't have to.'

'No you don't have to.' He assured her.

'So you can go everywhere when you are married,  as long as you two won't do something that'll make her pregnant.' She reasoned. Will chuckled, though the "you two" wasn't exactly what he wanted to hear. He wanted to hear "we". Why didn't she picture herself as the one marrying him? Was she that naïve?

'Yeah, you're right.' 

'Then what is your problem?' She asked, holding her hands in front of her with the palms up.

'Just let me finish my story Elisa.' He said, and he gave her a flat look.

'Alright, alright.' She put her hands up. 'I wasn't trying to upset you.' Will laughed.

'You,' Will started, pointing at her, 'Should stop being so naïve. People will take advantage of you when you believe everything they say, pity them and never lie.' She rolled her eyes.

'Just finish your story already.' She said.

'So I was arguing with my father and... Oh, right. I told him no one wants to marry at the age of eightteen. My dad said it would be good for me, and that he wanted a responsible young lady standing next to me on my eightteenth birthday. I, however, didn't agree on that and walked angrily back to my room on our ship. I locked the door and waited until my father was in his room as well. A few hours later, when I was sure they were already sleeping, I sneaked onto the deck and breathed in the fresh air. The chilly air was only making me feel better. You know how much pressure my dad put upon me? The midnight sky and the silver stars were just calming me down. It felt so relieving. There was no sound at all, except for the waves crashing wildly against the ship and the wind blowing fiercely over the water. I had always loved storms, so I tried to get lower. I wanted to touch the water, feel the excitement and smell the salty waves. And when I managed to get close to the sea, a gust of wind made me lose my balance. I strongly recommend not to climb over the railing of a boat when it storms, by the way.' She laughed. 'Why are you laughing?' He asked, a bit insulted.

'Sometimes, Will, you are a bit stupid.' 

'Well tell me your story then, as yours is more perfect than mine.' He challenged. She grinned, how can a story be perfect?

'I was playing hide and seek with my cousin Christine and some other children on the ship. But when I won, Christine got angry at me because I was cheating according to her. It was a silly argument, but it made me so sad. I didn't want to be the cheater. So I was disqualified from the game. I stood on the deck reading, while they were playing. I was fixed to my place, trying to hide my tears behind my hair and not looking at anyone but the ocean. Even when it started to rain and dark clouds blocked the sunlight, I kept standing there. I couldn't face my parents; I thought they would be angry that I cheated. Which I didn't do, but Christine thought I did and if she would have told my parents they would have been disappointed in me.