The Boat

Dedicated to individuals who suffer from domestic abuse.
"Not All Wounds are Visible"
A Note From the Author
As one might read this short story it may be easy for the roles of the characters in this story to be misunderstood. The Boat follows a young boy who is living on a boat in the middle of the ocean. The boy believes that the ocean speaks to him with such elegance and perfection. With this constant echo-room that the ocean is perfect, the boy leaves land to chase perfection. The boy proclaims that the ocean is teaching him and telling him fascinating stories that only he can hear. This sounds like a sweet deal if the boy loves the ocean. However, throughout the story, you start to realize that the ocean kidnapped the boy and took him away from his friends, family and social interactions with other people.
I wanted to use a metaphor for a toxic partner rather than actually writing about an abusive relationship so that the reader can interpret the story of how they please. This was my vision for the story and I wrote it in a specific way for more possible visions to be seen.
I thought of the quote "Not All Wounds are Visible" because throughout the story the boy is never directly physically wounded but rather goes through stages mental oppression which leads to the outcome of the story. I also chose a male lead to symbolize that men can and are victims of domestic abuse. This was not an act of sexism, this was an appeal to sympathy. Men who are domestically abused receive a social stigmatism and thus are less likely to get the help needed to overcome this stage of their lives.
I hope you enjoy reading.

-Austin William Kraft