The Young Woman & the Sea

Roused by curiosity, she took the strangers hand and they floated to the area presumed as the dance floor. The saxophone had begun again with an upbeat tempo that led them turning and twirling into a fluid rhythm. The evening dew set a thin layer over both parties as if the onlookers had thrown a light sheet overtop of them, muddling their senses to the outside world. With a few final beats the music changed to a slow murmur and she became aware of the strangers hand pressed firmly where the deep V of her emerald dress met her back. With scarce movement of her head she lifted her gaze to the chin, mouth, nose, and rested on the eyes of the man in whose arms she rested. The muscles in her stomach tightened with the overwhelming sense of having met eyes with this man before. Perhaps in another life; she couldn't be sure.

From across the room the door flew open with a gust of unexpected wind, cool this time and bringing with it the unmistakable scent of the sea. As the wind swirled beneath their feet she looked up once more to see giant waves reflecting in the pupils of the man staring back at her. Letting out an audible gasp, she stumbled, and fell backwards breaking their gaze. The wind settled as quickly as it had begun, the other bar patrons seemingly undisturbed. With a quick glance around at the door, he reached his hand out for hers once more.

Outside now, they walked briskly along the cobblestoned street until reaching a long alleyway, dimly lit with lanterns and descending to the sea. Stopping suddenly, she gently pressed her back against the stone wall and pulled him close to her. With the cliff side town engulfing them, their lips found each other, and the taste of the sea overwhelmed her. Losing all sense of time and place, her surroundings changed and she suddenly found herself wading in the middle of the open ocean. The waves grew high like walls around her, the emerald green blur at her feet twisting around with the motion of the choppy water. From beneath her she felt a stirring presence and began to see tentacles appear one by one, surrounding her in a circular motion. A giant sea monster enveloped her being, breaking through the ocean walls and lifting her from the water. With little time to think she closed her eyes and gave herself to the creature, letting the tentacles move her through the water and into the air like a floating massage.

Within moments the breeze gentled and she rolled softly onto the wet sand. Opening her eyes, she found herself alone with an old wooden chest several feet to her right. A glance to the sea revealed the final ripples of a recent disturbance, then stillness. She laid there for minutes of silence trying to make sense of the events of the past half hour. She was no stranger to obscure circumstances, but this one had a peculiar air of familiarity all the same. Making her way to the wooden chest, she found the lock to be broken and hesitated only a few beats before reaching out to open it. In it, a small and tattered black notebook lay atop vintage clothing and a sack filled with old currency. Setting the notebook aside she began to count the money, slouching backwards in awe as she found there to be $20,000 worth of notes.

With slightly shaking hands, she reached for the black notebook and opened it to see that a page had been ripped out and placed at the front. The ink was blotched in a number of places, but it was still quite legible. The top right hand corner was dated September 1891, nearly 130 years ago. She went on to read:

My Dearest Serafina,

It is my hope this chest of items reaches you in time, as you must certainly be nearing the start of your journey. The expedition surely has been tiresome and I fear we must leave again to face another daunting stretch of sea. Two sunrises ago while walking on the east side of the island daydreaming of our mornings together, I came across this abandoned fortune that can only be a concrete sign of hope and prosperity for our new life together. The ship that will carry this chest will have instructions to take it to your address immediately. You must conceal the fortune well on your trip to America and until I arrive there to meet you. The sea, like your namesake, is fiercely fiery and wholly passionate; we fishermen are brave and more than willing to face it head on. I must make haste, and while this letter may be brief, it is nothing compared to the everlasting love I have for you. Know that I would cross one thousand oceans to be by your side.

Yours always,

Pelayo

Heart pounding, she turned the pages of the black notebook to find a number of scribbled addresses, poems and notes. Her eyes filling with tears, she looked once again to the sea; the calm emanating was a reassurance. She took a deep breath and smiled greatly, knowing what she had to do. Sliding the notebook into the sack with the money, she stood up and looked around to the cliff side. To her left there was an opening and a lantern lit path led up to the town above. Brushing the damp hair away from her eyes, Sera slid off her heels and began the climb.