The Wide World

A Fade in Hope

"It's time. I will be back," Charlotte whispered, as I watched her step onto the boat.

I didn't get to say anything to her after that. All I saw, through my tears, was Charlotte's thin, chocolate-brown hair being whipped in the sea wind. The clouds were plain that day and no blue sky was showing. The salty air was whipping the beige sails, of the boat, and I was standing on the old wooden dock, crying with no noise. I never did, and I never will.

We walked home that day, in the pouring rain. The rain had started just after we left the harbor.

My mom sincerely exclaimed, after a long silence, "There was no choice. I am very, very sorry."

I just looked at her, with a  solemn look enclosing my face. I couldn't get a word out, no matter how hard I tried.

By the time we got home, it was dark and my sister was cooking a quick dinner for us. My hair was brown, now, because of the rain. Although my hair is usually a shade of blonde, but it was then a deep brown.

"Mom, do you think Charlotte will ever be back?" I asked my mother, as we sat down at the table.

"She will, Linn, she will," she answered, almost whispering.

I din't think she was very sure, though, she sounded very uncertain.

I lay in bed, that night, no knowing what would happen next.

I asked, not knowing that Eva would be awake,  "Why... why did she have to go?" I knew that answer, but I still said, "The journey is long , and I am putting all of my hopes into her survival."

"Linn... I get it," Eva answered, thinking I was talking to her, "I've loved her as much as you do."

"I love you, Eva," I said, as I took a yawn, "Talk more in the morning?"

"Talk more in the morning," Eva confirmed, and yawned...