Vexation
“It would have never worked between us, darling.”
Elizabeth’s brow furrowed instinctively at the man before her.
Who did he think he was? To say such things…and within the reach of curious ears. Will, however, did not seem to mind. A quick questioning look in her direction, followed by a compliment of a ridiculous looking hat seemed to mollify the entire situation. And with the dramatic exit of Captain Jack Sparrow, Elizabeth’s life would start anew.
She looked at the man who now stood before her. Gazing, enraptured with her. A boy she had loved for years. He was a mystery to her, characterized by an uncertain and scandalous upbringing. But Will was always a kind and gentle soul, whose intentions were never tainted by selfish want or need.
“No,” Elizabeth replied to her father, smiling lovingly at Will, “He’s a pirate.”
For a flicker of a moment, she felt her spoken declaration contradict her unspoken realizations of the nature of his character. A kind and gentle soul…intentions never tainted by selfish want or need…
But she let the moment slip from her mind as their lips met. Yet while the words themselves had fled her thoughts, an image of another man seemed to present itself.
“That boy? Pirate? I’ve not yet had enough rum to accept such rubbish.”
Elizabeth’s lips slowly drew away from Will and in a single moment of silence, she felt enraged. Enraged by the outrageous notion of Jack Sparrow in all of his drunken, swaggering, (albeit very attractive) glory entering her thoughts as she shared her first kiss with a man she had only met in dreams.
Yet the image of Jack persisted. She began to recall their meeting. His smoldering eyes seemed to burn right through her own as he replied, “Sticks and stones, love. I saved your life, you saved mine. We’re square.”
Never had she been spoken to in such a way. The harshness of his words uttered in a deep, yet soft voice could have been the most exhilarating experience of her life. Because that abrasiveness spoke to a part in her long forgotten. It was a part she never thought could survive in a world of propriety and diligence.
She longed to speak out. No. Not speak. To shout out all of her desires, no matter how selfish or improper. To be honored, but not doted upon. And as the sun began to set upon the horizon, she gazed upon the glassy ocean, which carried away all of these possibilities along with the handsome captain. Will gently led her by the hand as her eyes followed the sun’s descent in the crimson sky. Her soul set aflame with a thousand burning curiosities.
Elizabeth’s brow furrowed instinctively at the man before her.
Who did he think he was? To say such things…and within the reach of curious ears. Will, however, did not seem to mind. A quick questioning look in her direction, followed by a compliment of a ridiculous looking hat seemed to mollify the entire situation. And with the dramatic exit of Captain Jack Sparrow, Elizabeth’s life would start anew.
She looked at the man who now stood before her. Gazing, enraptured with her. A boy she had loved for years. He was a mystery to her, characterized by an uncertain and scandalous upbringing. But Will was always a kind and gentle soul, whose intentions were never tainted by selfish want or need.
“No,” Elizabeth replied to her father, smiling lovingly at Will, “He’s a pirate.”
For a flicker of a moment, she felt her spoken declaration contradict her unspoken realizations of the nature of his character. A kind and gentle soul…intentions never tainted by selfish want or need…
But she let the moment slip from her mind as their lips met. Yet while the words themselves had fled her thoughts, an image of another man seemed to present itself.
“That boy? Pirate? I’ve not yet had enough rum to accept such rubbish.”
Elizabeth’s lips slowly drew away from Will and in a single moment of silence, she felt enraged. Enraged by the outrageous notion of Jack Sparrow in all of his drunken, swaggering, (albeit very attractive) glory entering her thoughts as she shared her first kiss with a man she had only met in dreams.
Yet the image of Jack persisted. She began to recall their meeting. His smoldering eyes seemed to burn right through her own as he replied, “Sticks and stones, love. I saved your life, you saved mine. We’re square.”
Never had she been spoken to in such a way. The harshness of his words uttered in a deep, yet soft voice could have been the most exhilarating experience of her life. Because that abrasiveness spoke to a part in her long forgotten. It was a part she never thought could survive in a world of propriety and diligence.
She longed to speak out. No. Not speak. To shout out all of her desires, no matter how selfish or improper. To be honored, but not doted upon. And as the sun began to set upon the horizon, she gazed upon the glassy ocean, which carried away all of these possibilities along with the handsome captain. Will gently led her by the hand as her eyes followed the sun’s descent in the crimson sky. Her soul set aflame with a thousand burning curiosities.