It's been an eternity, I know... But better late than never.
Day 1 |
Days 2 and 3 Day 4
Amelia was starting to get used to sleeping on the floor. She wasn’t sure that was a good thing or not. She didn’t want to spend the rest of her life trapped on an island, but if they were going to stay for a while, she’d better get used to it quickly.
Thoughts like that plagued her every night as she fell asleep and every morning as she woke up. She had hoped for a new life when she sat sail and this was definitely different from her old one, but she had wished for something more. She didn’t need a lot of comfort, her family had been poor and she had been happy eating what they planted and fished.
She had hoped for something that would make her wake up and smile every morning. She’d wanted to have a husband to pamper and children to make her laugh.
Now, she didn’t know if this would ever get to happen. She sighed and got up.
Marcus had already woken up and she felt bad for waking up after him.
“I’ll make us some breakfast,” she said
He smiled. “We must still have some fruit and lettuce left from yesterday.”
“We will have to use our creativity to get some more things done today. We’ll need something to use as a cupboard and preserve our food in the coolness of the back of the cave.”
“I have an idea to get you cooking again. We will need to collect some rocks and wood.”
“You can count on me and I’m sure I’ll be able to come up with more options of food that way.”
“You were a great cook in the ship, I’m sure you could write a book with your ideas.”
She flushed.
“I can try to catch some different kind of fish so we can have a diverse diet.”
She proceeded outside to get some fruit for breakfast. As she approached the pile she had made the previous day, she pursed lips.
It was greatly diminished from what she remembered. Wild animals must have shown up and eaten some of it. She reprimanded herself for being so careless. Hopefully, with Marcus idea for a cupboard, they wouldn’t have this problem again.
Both of them split up and headed to fulfill their tasks. She would try to find small stones while Marcus would get some larger ones and some wood. She also wanted to find some flowers to decorate the cave a bit and make it more colorful.
Marcus thought he would be able to drag the large stones using the old timber from the broken bridge.
As Marcus approached the beach, a big black bird caught his interest.
It was surprisingly friendly.
“Hello, birdie.”
He’d always had a pirate fantasy when he was a child and always thought sailors should have birds as pets.
Amelia also liked pets and thought a butterfly would make a nice decoration.
They continued exploring.
Amelia walked though the shore to find more objects washed from the wreck while Marcus continued to take more rocks, wood and leaves back to the cave.
She found something and began digging.
By the end of the afternoon, Marcus had finished his cupboard.
Amelia found some objects and took them in.
The place almost started to feel like home.
By dinner, Amelia was able to prepare a decent salad for them.
After dinner she heard voices and was surprised to see Marcus playing again with his bird. She laughed.
“Tomorrow, I’ll make you a comfortable place to stay,” he said in a sweet baby voice.
Day 5
Next morning came to what already seemed to start being a routine. Again, Amelia woke up after Marcus and she was starting to feel bad for that. She got up and saw that he had managed to bring a large branch to make a small home for his bird.
She smiled. "I really hope it isn't so sunny in here everyday."
"Even though it rains sometimes, I suppose there must be a colder period later this year."
She was sure she was supposed to say something after that but she suddenly feared she would end up choking. A brief awkward silence followed.
She took a deep breath and, instead of thanking him for everything he was doing, she ended up complimenting him.
And both ended up standing way too close to each other.
She left the cave, trying to ignore the conversation between Marcus and his bird.
She followed her day doing her chores of fishing, tending the garden and cooking.
She found hard to stay in the same room as Marcus so she purposely ate her lunch after he had finished. When he left to read one of the books they had savaged, she chose to read one herself but inside the dark interior of the cave.
It was starting to get darker when she left the cave and saw Marcus' back going for a run. She couldn't help herself but look at it a bit longer than she probably should.
She decided to enjoy his absence by entering the bubbly lake inside the cave.
She snapped her head up when she heard a loud thunder cracking nearby. Soon, the sound of peppering rain filled the cave, even in the safety of the far back.
Minutes stretched and she started to worry.
She sighed in relief when he entering the cave, dripping and sweaty. He smiled at her and nodded.
"Would you mind if I joined you, fair lady?"
She smiled. "Of course not."
She took a deep breath to steady her heart.
"I didn't use to have this kind of luxury back home."
"You didn't use to live in a beautiful tropical island?" She giggled, feeling the tension ease.
He chuckled. "No, I think not."
He dove into the water and stayed there for a few seconds. She jumped slightly when he emerged right next to her.
"Hi," she said.
"Hi."
She tried to relax and found that was much easier to do if she, instead of ignoring him, focused on his warm present next to her.
She didn't know how long after that she climbed out of the tub to head away for the night. He followed her and they shared another moment of proximity that seemed to last forever. Somehow, the moment stretched even longer when their lips finally met.
The next moments followed in a haze of sensations. She finally surrendered to the feelings that had been plaguing her since she first found herself trapped on that island.