.And a Pirate's Life for me
Chapter six-
I ran below deck. I couldn't put up with this any longer. I would be killed, and much
worse, so would Moiré. She was too young to die. So was I, but I certainly had lived to
experience part of the second stage of life. But for my baby of three days to die, that was
too much. I took nothing with me, other than my disguise. I put Moiré in blankets,
covering her, but giving her enough space to breathe. I gave Will a quick kiss on his
forehead, unwilling to part from him but knowing that was what I had to do. The more I
stared into his face, the more anxious I became. I might not ever see him again. Moiré
could never know her father. We might starve because of the sexism that prevented us
women from getting proper jobs. Perhaps I'd become a maid.
I had to go before my mind invented more cruel imaginings. Gathering my 'bundle',
Moiré, I slipped into the dark corridor that was Jack's room. I spied his pile of rags that
he used for cleaning the ship. He wouldn't miss just one. I took a large one and draped it
around myself so that it would cover most of my dress. Even though my dress was torn
and dirty as it was, I wanted to be careful.
I thought about what I was leaving behind. I thought about what I was leaving that Morie
would need. She needed her Father. She also, surprisingly, needed Jack. Jack, who was
her godfather, had an unlikely liking for her. He was drawn to her. It could have been out
of drunkenness, but he could quiet her at any point. He needed a child of his own, as
Annamarie always said. Annamarie was her godmother. She needed her as well.
But most of all, she needed life. And this was all I could do to honor that.
I rowed out to nowhere, surveying the endless sea with sleepless eyes. I needed to sleep. I
was awakened by Will last night. He was having a dream, a nightmare. He was screaming
at the same time, as he tossed and turned. He looked like he was trying to convince
himself that the curse was broken. But I let this pass away. We were all still recovering
from this trauma, and Will was taking it harder. That was fine.
I finally reached shore. I looked around. There was a nice beach, with a sign with a wood
stake holding it up. It read:
"Spring Bay, Virgin Gorda."
Chapter six-
I ran below deck. I couldn't put up with this any longer. I would be killed, and much
worse, so would Moiré. She was too young to die. So was I, but I certainly had lived to
experience part of the second stage of life. But for my baby of three days to die, that was
too much. I took nothing with me, other than my disguise. I put Moiré in blankets,
covering her, but giving her enough space to breathe. I gave Will a quick kiss on his
forehead, unwilling to part from him but knowing that was what I had to do. The more I
stared into his face, the more anxious I became. I might not ever see him again. Moiré
could never know her father. We might starve because of the sexism that prevented us
women from getting proper jobs. Perhaps I'd become a maid.
I had to go before my mind invented more cruel imaginings. Gathering my 'bundle',
Moiré, I slipped into the dark corridor that was Jack's room. I spied his pile of rags that
he used for cleaning the ship. He wouldn't miss just one. I took a large one and draped it
around myself so that it would cover most of my dress. Even though my dress was torn
and dirty as it was, I wanted to be careful.
I thought about what I was leaving behind. I thought about what I was leaving that Morie
would need. She needed her Father. She also, surprisingly, needed Jack. Jack, who was
her godfather, had an unlikely liking for her. He was drawn to her. It could have been out
of drunkenness, but he could quiet her at any point. He needed a child of his own, as
Annamarie always said. Annamarie was her godmother. She needed her as well.
But most of all, she needed life. And this was all I could do to honor that.
I rowed out to nowhere, surveying the endless sea with sleepless eyes. I needed to sleep. I
was awakened by Will last night. He was having a dream, a nightmare. He was screaming
at the same time, as he tossed and turned. He looked like he was trying to convince
himself that the curse was broken. But I let this pass away. We were all still recovering
from this trauma, and Will was taking it harder. That was fine.
I finally reached shore. I looked around. There was a nice beach, with a sign with a wood
stake holding it up. It read:
"Spring Bay, Virgin Gorda."