Whispers of the Sea

1- The Whispers of the Storm

It was a warm autumn day as the waves crashed and hummed loudly against the shore of the usually calm beach. Its cool salty scent blew through the air and danced wistfully with a couple of leaves that had fallen from the small trees and bushes from across the street. There, above the tall concrete wall—that protected the streets from the tough water—you stood looking out into the far distant ocean. Your eyes were clear with peace as you gripped your golden pendant that hung just above your breasts.

You stretch your aching arms above your head and let a large yawn escape from your lips. Your pale aqua blue and gold pendant swayed gently for your movements. The sea—that you kept a steady gaze on—surrounded the edges of your quaint island hometown and kept the place private from the gaze of any travellers. Sure, sometimes such a small town could seem somewhat boring to you and you sometimes longed for something more across the ocean. But, a place where everyone and everything knew each other proved to be a difficult place to get out of. In your heart, you knew that you would never be able to give up the beautiful sea to move somewhere new. It was your forever home and you had far too many lovely memories to reminisce on. Like the nights when the waves crashed against the shore in fury as a storm brewed high in the sky above, demanding something that it did not have. It always scared your younger self so bad that you felt like the storm itself would consume you. The only thing that could soothe you to sleep was the voice of your mother telling you fantastic fairy tales and stories of magnificent adventures. Regardless of the past storms, today the sea's harsh waves and winds didn't seem like they would last into the later day. There was something about the sea today that to you, seemed perfect. Your father promised to take you on his boat to stargaze and hunt for some constellations that appeared only at this time of the year tonight. It was a pastime throughout the year as the skyline changed to search along the water's edge for new constellations. However, your mother was so weary of the ocean's depths and uncontrollable nature that you were bound to stargaze from the comfort of the windowsills. Ever since the incident as a young child, your mother had kept you close to home at bay, where she could reach you. As her only child, she couldn't bear the idea or mention of the time she had thought of losing you. Her distaste for the ocean had grown since the incident as a child, and even she wouldn't step foot into the waters again. The event had left your poor mother terrified from the thought of it ever happening again. You couldn't recollect any events of the night you were cast off of the boat and into the deep ocean's waves. You had almost drowned and since that night so you've never once been allowed on a boat since then. Tonight was going to be kept a secret from the lady as she was out of town visiting her younger sister who was just about to have her third child. Your father has a great love for the sea so much so that he hated the idea of you never being able to experience it again. He despises the thought of your only time being on it is the time it almost took your life. Before the incident he had dreamed of taking you out on the sea to do his job with him as he is a fisherman; a truly passionate one. The breeze blew from the beachside and through your soft salty hair, bringing a small smile to your face. You close your eyes to feel everything around you a bit more. Noisy yet peaceful you note as you begin your trip home to see your father.

"I'm home!" You call up the stairs of your home to your father. You take your shoes off and put on your house slippers before going to the stairs. Once halfway up the stairs, some shuffling and a small—but loud—thump can be heard. You hear a grunt, then, a happy voice calls out to you.

"Welcome back sweetheart!" A soft giggle leaves you as you walk up the last few steps of the stairs. Stairs that are old enough to creak and groan from each of your steps. When you're fully up, you turn slightly to your left and into the kitchen. There your father stood with a few pots and pan that had presumably fallen from the counter near him. It seems that he was in the middle of putting the clean dishes away and perhaps, struggling at it. You catch his sheepish smile as you meet his eyes with yours, greeting him back with a bigger not so sheepish one.