Page 2 of Found at Sea
“Don’t let ‘em get to ya, Fletch,” he said in a gravely tone.
“I’m not,” I responded, offering him a smile. “May I retire to my room for the night?”
“Go on,” he said, lightly squeezing my shoulder. His brown hair was speckled with gray, and his brown eyes always looked so drained. “I’ll close up.”
I sat the pitcher of ale down before ambling upstairs to my loft.
Sickness took my father when I was just a young lad, and my mother had died bringing me into this world. Ned had found me living on the streets and brought me into his home. He’d given me a job at his tavern, as well as the space above it to live.
Yet, I knew it was not a permanent arrangement. He was a kind man, but his kindness only went so far. One day, he wouldn’t have use of me, and I’d be right back where I started.
Exhausted from a long day of work, I collapsed onto my bed. Noise from downstairs drifted up to me, but I was too tired and fell asleep shortly after closing my eyes.
***
A ship came into port the next day, bringing with it goods for trade. I sat on the hill beside the sea, looking down as it docked. Men unloaded wooden crates. Perhaps the crates were filled with spices or wine. They could’ve held the finest cloth or silk and maybe even jewels.
I liked to sit and guess as to what they contained, having discovered long ago that my imagination was a wonderful escape.
When I was younger and living on the streets, I’d played a game where I was a hero in my own story. I’d went out of my way to help people more fortunate than me, just to make myself feel like I mattered. More fortunate because I’d had nothing but my kindness, whereas they had riches. And yet I still tried to help them—carrying their items from the market to where they wanted them, chasing down thieves who’d stolen their coin purse.
Just anything to make myself not feel so worthless.
Holding onto that fantasy—as silly as it might’ve been—had been the one thing to keep me going. Then, Ned had found me. I’d once thought he saw me as a son, but as kind as he was, I knew he only allowed me to live under his roof because he had use of me.
The wind rustled my auburn hair, and I breathed in the wonderful scent coming off the water below. And what beautiful water it was; vibrant blue and sparkling as if diamonds covered its surface.
Adventure waited within the waves and beyond what my eyes could see. If only I could reach out and grab it. I dreamed of leaving this place and seeing the world; something the old man from the night before had picked up on much too easily.
My innocence seeped from my every pore. My eyes were not those of a man who’d seen adventure, and instead were those of someone who longed to go on such voyages. I was a man who felt lost in life, yearning to fill the void in my chest, but not knowing how.
Mountains were to my left, and I watched a bird fly above them, stretching its wings and soaring amongst the wispy clouds. Free. Another bird seated in the tree above me sang; a sound that filled my heart with joy.
I whistled along with it, echoing its melody.
If I would’ve had my lute, I would’ve picked out a tune. Ned had often asked me if I’d like to play in the tavern some nights for the patrons, but I’d refused his offer.
I loved to sing and play music, but I couldn’t do it in front of other people. When I tried, I froze and forgot everything I knew. Forgot every lyric and every chord.
It was a passion better kept to myself.
Lost in the bird’s song, I didn’t have a care in the world. With the sun warming my skin, the breeze caressing my face, and the smell of cooking meat mixed in with the flowery scent of the nature surrounding me, I was at peace.
That is until I saw something out of the corner of my eye.
Right as I snapped my head to the left, I could’ve sworn I saw black sails before the mountains shielded them from view.
