Esperanza woke up by herself inside the hammock early the next morning. Standing up with the blanket still wrapped around her shoulders she walked over to the table and picked up her plate of food. She took it to the window seat and sat down, gazing out the window. It didn't look like they were moving, they must have stopped somewhere. Either in the middle of the ocean or at a port somewhere, she couldn't tell.
Esperanza lifted the blanket up to her face an inhaled the scent, Jack's scent. It instantly made her smile, she felt like there was energy fluttering inside her chest fighting to get out. She laughed at the odd sensation, what was wrong with her?
Maybe she had fallen ill, but that seemed unlikely since this felt too good for her to be unwell.
"Maybe I've just gone mad" she said out loud to herself.
The door creaked open revealing Mr. Gibbs; he removed his tri-corn hat and stepped in the room, shutting the door behind him.
"Good morning Mr. Gibbs" she said smiling, it had been a while since he'd come in to greet her.
He started busying himself with things around the room "Morning lass"
"Have we made port again Mr. Gibbs?" she asked as she brushed her hair.
"Aye Lass, and on that note…I have Captain's orders for ye" He replied looking at her.
Esperanza walked over and sat on the bed, listening intently to whatever he had to say.
"He asks that ye be dressed and ready…and he will come fetch ye when ye are needed" He said heading out the door once again.
She nodded in response and watched him leave. It was weird that Jack would specifically send someone to tell her that, after all it's not like she could go on land and if she felt like going on deck she would dress.
Maybe he had a surprise for her. Esperanza smiled at the thought and started wondering what it could be. Knowing Jack it could be something as simple as a beautiful view from the crows nest. She had always wanted to go up there but never asked Jack, maybe he had caught her at the many times she had just stared at it.
The entire uncertainty of the situation thrilled Esperanza, she couldn't wait until she saw him walk through that door.
She had to hurry and get ready, how embarrassing would it be if he should come to fetch her and she was only half dressed.
She rushed to her clothing and begun dressing and brushing her hair to a beautiful smooth shine.
After she was finished, Esperanza had nothing to do but to sit and wait. She sat down on the bed and looked around the room.
Then she moved to the window seat and looked outside.
Then she moved to the chair and drummed her fingers on the table
Then she moved to sit on the hammock and rocked back and forth.
Then she moved to the bed…again.
She was so anxious! She couldn't stay still, she had spent the entire day walking to and fro in this room.
Looking out the window again she noticed darkness was already falling.
Where was Jack?
She walked over to the nightstand and lit a long candle, knowing that the sunlight wasn't going to last long.
She sat on the window seat once again and watched the sun set over the horizon. Not long after, twilight had faded and everything outside the window was just black skies filled with stars and a black mass of water lit only by the moonlight.
Maybe Jack had forgotten and didn't plan on coming; great she got all excited for nothing.
She stood up and was about to change into her sleeping garments when the door opened and Jack walked in with a piece of cloth in his hand.
"Jack" she said walking over to him. He was in full captain's gear, jacket and hat and all. He even wore a cloak around his shoulders that covered his arms and went down to his knees. Esperanza couldn't stop staring at how handsome he looked.
"Where have you been? Mr. Gibbs told me to be ready and dressed for you. Perhaps he was misinformed" she said moving to help him take off his affects.
He halted her hand "Mr. Gibbs was not misinformed; he did as I told him." He said as she dropped her hands to her sides. He draped the cloth that had been in his hands around her and Esperanza noticed it was another cloak when he tied the front of it. The fabric was light and it reached to her feet.
"Jack…where are we going?" She asked completely confused and his actions.
He didn't answer "There we go" he said as he pulled the hood over her head. Esperanza wasn't sure what he had in mind, but she trusted him.
Jack stepped out of the room "Let's go luv" he said flashing her a grin and offering her his hand. She took it and Jack led them out to the deck.
Esperanza looked around and noticed that the deck was dark and empty, not one crew member in sight and not one lamp was lit.
Jack led her across the deck, down the ramp, and onto a desolate port.
Then she recognized it.
This was the port of Cartagena, her house was not but only a few miles from here.
Jack had stopped and she turned to look at him "Jack…what are we doing here? What is going on?"
Jack looked at Esperanza, his sweet and innocent Esperanza. Her face filled with doubt. "You are free" he said softly letting go of her hand.
Esperanza didn't understand, was he serious? Was he letting her go?
It's odd that she had dreamt of the day she would return to her home, to be able to see her father once again. Yet as the moment stood in front of her, she couldn't think of anything else but the man standing in front of her.
She couldn't stand the thought of leaving him.
Tears gathered in her eyes. She hugged him, tightening her arms around his waist, hoping in some way that this was just a joke. Hoping that in anytime now he would lead her back on the Pearl and they would go back to their everyday lives.
Esperanza knew that she would fight to stay at his side, and in the back of her mind came a frightening realization.
She was falling in love with him.
For a moment, she couldn't breathe as the notion hung in her thoughts like a frightening specter.
But there was no denying what she felt for him, the lengths she would go just to be with him.
Jack grabbed her shoulders and pried her off him. He looked down at her, memorizing her face. Memorizing the way she looked up under the moonlight that was spilling through the clouds. In full knowledge that this would be the last time he saw her.
Esperanza, she was the only thing the seven seas that had thaught a man like him to care.
The only thing that made him feel again.
He used he thumb to wipe off a tear that was rolling down her cheek.
"You are now longer my prisioner, luv"
Esperanza shook her head "But Jack…"
He took his index finger and placed it over her lips "not buts luv…now take this" he said as he handed her a letter from his coat pocket "and there is something I must ask of you"
"Anything" she said holding the letter close to her chest.
"Should anyone happen to ask ye about me, or about these past six months. Promise Jack that you will lie"
He wanted her to lie? What about? "What do you mean?"
"What I mean luv, is that you will either say I was ruthless and rotten and you somehow managed to escape or you shall deny me completely…as if you had never met me" He explained, backing away from her.
Esperanza couldn't speak, she couldn't move. He was serious, he was leaving her here and forgetting about her.
"Go on home Esperanza, back to where you belong." He said as he did the thing he knew would be hardest about tonight; he turned around and walked onto the Pearl without looking back.
Esperanza saw Jack disappear onto the Pearl, followed by crew members who lifted the ramp and disconnected it from the port.
Just like that, they were on their way.
She stood there motionless for what seemed like hours, letting the tears flow freely down her cheeks.
At last she saw the Black Pearl disappear into the dark horizon, with the man she loved aboard.
"Hey you Miss, what are you doing there?" Esperanza was startled by the voice of a man behind her.
She hid the note in her dress and turned around. The man was carrying a lamp and was approaching her "Miss, I asked you, what are you doing here"
It had been a while since Esperanza heard her own language so it took her a minute to respond. "My name is Esperanza Gutierrez and-" she stopped remembering what Jack told her.
"And..?" The man in front of her asked lifting his eyebrows.
"And…and I was kidnapped by pirates" she said as more tears slid down her cheeks.
this was hard to write since I'm such an empath.
working on the next chappy
-La