miscellaneous | mine

THALASSOPHILIA

so this is a short story i wrote a while ago that i'm very proud of. originally i wrote it as practice with metaphors and to excercise a different writing style, but it evolved and i worked on it a lot more than i thought i would.

fun fact: i actually won a short story contest with this!

I clap my hands, excited beyond my days as the sailboat lifts off of the shore and begins bobbing over the waves into the vast sea. Daddy always said how he would take me sailing when I was old enough, and now I finally am! Nine years old, and ready to face the ocean!

"This is so cool!" I look up at Daddy as he works the ropes and sails.

"Isn't it?" he chuckles.

Giggling at my surroundings, I crane over the edge of the boat and run my hand down the smooth side.

"Careful, now, Caroline!" Daddy warns.

"I know! I just want to touch the water!"

"Wait until we're farther out, when the currents aren't as strong. Then you can, I promise!"

Understanding, I retreat from the edge and pick my way over to the front of the boat. The wind tickles through my hair teasingly, blowing blonde strands in front of my face. I've dreamt of this day for oh so long! When I was very little, I watched my daddy sail out into the ocean, and I knew I wanted to be out there with him.

This is where I'm meant to be. I just know it.

The shore is small in the distance. Daddy says it is safe to touch the water now. I hop up and lean over, making sure to keep a good grip on the boat with one hand. The tips of my fingers graze the water. It's so cold! It sends shivers up my arm, but I like it. I let my entire hand sink into the water and laugh.

Daddy appears next to me. "Having fun?"

"Yes!"

"What do you see?"

I stick out my bottom lip and squint at the blackening swells. "It's too dark."

"Then, what do you feel?"

"It's very cold!" I exclaim.

"How about this: What do you hear?"

I snort at his ridiculous statement. "It's water! It doesn't really make noise..." I trail off as a snatch of a whisper scatters past my ear. I bolt upright, searching for the source. "What was that?"

"Did you hear something?"

"I- I-" There it is again. A light breath of forbidden knowledge. An invitation to delve into the unknown. I rush to the other end of the boat and slam against the side to peer over, almost losing my balance.

The swirls of the sea form shapes that I cannot comprehend. Voices dangle just beneath the surface which I desperately want to encounter. I yearn to know them. I yearn for them to know me. But they dance just out of reach.

"Caroline?!" My dad sounds worried.

I turn to him. "Yes?"

"You're pale as snow!"

"I am?"

He sinks to his knees in front of me and grasps my shoulders, dark brows furrowed in concern. "What happened?"

I stare back at him, mouth parted. "The sea voices called to me, and I wanted to answer."

"The sea voices?"

"Yes! But I can't get to them."

He looks off to the horizon, not responding.

"I want to answer them, Daddy!"