A spray of water lifted from the ocean like a sparkling curtain, dashing heroically across the deck of the ship. The boy leaning across the side of the ship laughed, displaying rows of gleaming white teeth, eyes shut from the force of laughter, water droplets glimmering, clinging to his eyelashes. The ship creaked, almost as if it was joining in with the boy's cheery mood. A breeze murmured peacefully, content, brushing against the flag that held a symbol of conviction, causing the dark and heavy cloth to curl and twist in the wind. Lifting a hand to press a red ribbon straw hat firmly onto his head, he watched the sea with glowing eyes, fascinated, like he had never seen anything like it before. It was dusk, and the sun glowed, pinkish and fading streaks of yellow in the cloudless blue sky. Clambering onto the figurehead of the ship, the boy stretched out his arms as if to embrace the sun, head titled back, eyes closed trustingly, believing in his own strength, that he could take whatever the world gave him. He smiled, and the smile was bright enough to shatter the sun's radiance, and explode into a million stars.
In that grin, it overpowered everyone and everything, lighting the way to dreams and goals, halting the path of those who sought to get in his way. It had brought another from the desperate dance with death, who had only wanted to grow up and surpass his eternal promise. It had dried the tears of an orange haired girl, who lived only for money because she had trusted nothing else. It had gifted a boy with the possibility of striving for a dream, and a small parcel of courage. It had pulled a cook from his ship into the world to seek a dream that no one else believed was real. It had comforted the hollow and lonely heart of a doctor, who only wanted to be accepted, and pushed him to continue a dream left behind. It had saved the life of one who lived in the past, and brought her out into the light to learn to laugh and smile again.
His smile was fierce, and determined. All at once, full of the hidden knowledge that cowered in the shadows of peoples' hearts, and innocent of the world and fear. It was brave and carefree, and it was so strong that it seemed almost tangible. His smile was like a magnet and drew the hearts of others to him. That smile, so true and pure, split through souls, gently scrubbing them clean, or polishing them until they shone, bringing out the best in others. And should he wish it, that smile could become grim and mocking, dark with anger and black with simple undiluted hate. That very same smile could rip hearts and bodies open, leaving trails of blood and death lingering.
It was this and so much more, yet it was only a smile. It was his smile⦠and no one else's.
