A Voyage Together

Coby did not wish to leave his father at this condition. Ever since his mother left them when he was five, he believed it was his responsibility to take care of his father. And for the last ten years, that was exactly what he did. He had found the most efficient way to clean up around the little cabin by the water they called home. He had found comfort in preparing fulfilling meals for just the two of them. Coby had never thought of leaving this small town by the port, where fishermen and tradesmen come and go. But today, it seemed impossible to have a choice; his father was ill, and the best doctor was a voyage away.
His father had arranged for him to join a fisherman’s ship to travel across the ocean. The journey would take about five days. “Then I shall return immediately for you, father,” he said resolutely, as his father embraced him and passed him a piece of paper for the doctor. Their farewell took place at the dock. “Thank you, son. This note will explain to Dr. Williams my conditions and we shall be at peace,” his father said calmly with a proud smile.
Everything happened quickly onboard. Coby saw the crew members busied themselves with preparations. Everyone worked quick and organized. He felt out of place for a moment as he stood there watching it unfolded. Then he saw an opportunity to be helpful; a girl in heavy boots and gloves was trying to lift up some crates on the deck. He rushed right over. “Let me help you out with that.” Coby offered. “I am certain that I am capable on my own,” she said.
Coby’s hand stopped mid action.
“But if you would like, these crates need to go inside. Oliver fell ill and is resting for the day,” she said while carrying two of the four crates.
Her name was Madison, daughter of the captain. She had been with the crew ever since she was born. Having learned from the best (her words), she knew everything about the ocean; how to predict the change of weather, how the tide would behave, and where to avoid dangerous sea monsters. There was no other place to call home.
Madison spent the first day teaching Coby the basics. She couldn’t believe her father would allow such an amateur to board.
“This is how you tie up the rope. Here, it goes over, then under. There, you see how strong it holds,” she patiently showed him for the third time. Coby had listened intently, and this time, followed through with it. It looked perfect. An unfamiliar sensation brewing up inside of him.
On the third day the weather grew worse, a storm was approaching them, just like Madison had predicted. Heavy rain poured down on them. All the goods secured in the cabin, and crews waited closely in their positions. A lightning struck near their ship, and the waves grew stronger. Coby held on to the ropes close by Madison. She was observing the clouds.
“I need to check on the mast. Mr. Smith had been slacking off recently.” As she walked over, a huge wave hit, the whole ship shook, and tipped. “Hold on tight!” shouted the captain, “Adam! To the second position!” he commanded.
Madison fell and gravity pulled her close to the edge of the ship. Her legs were hanging over the edge while her one hand held on to the bulwark. She pulled out her pocket knife, with great force, slamming it into the wooden structure, her petite body swinging by the strong wind. Seeing the disastrous scene, Coby was in great distress and froze.
“What are you doing, Coby! Pull me up quickly!” Madison shouted.
The captain, seeing his daughter in great danger, thought for a second but could not let go of the handles on the wheel, for every other person’s safety was in his hands. Coby took a step closer to Madison, before his mind had caught up with him, his body reacted and extended his free hand to her. She grabbed on to it right away and he pulled her close. With a rope flying around them, Madison tied a knot to secure themselves. She looked up at the sky again. The wind subsided, waves clamed, and within a few minutes, the sky was clear.
Just as everyone started to relaxed, they heard someone shouting, “Sea creature on the West!”, then came another voice, “it’s coming towards us!”, then another, “Brace yourselves!”
THUD!
Coby heard water splashing on the ship, covering the already wet deck. Then there was silence.
“What is going on? Where is it?” one crew yelled out. And others started looking around, Coby among them. He carefully pulled himself around the bulwark trying to see over the ship. The sun was shining on the vast ocean, and the reflection cast the most wonderous view of this unknown world. There he saw, a few feet away from their vessel, the half emerged navy blue top of the sea creature.
“Over here!”, he shouted, “it’s not moving!” Peter, the best fighter among the crew quickly came over with a pike in his hand. Popping his head over the edge, raised the weapon and readied himself.
“Wait! Wait!” Coby yelled out, blocking grabbing the end of the weapon.
“Let go, kid!”
Madison had been studying the still creature, she took a step closer. With speed, lowered herself down closer, her feet touching the top of it.
“You’re mad!” Peter yelled, still trying to free his weapon from Coby.
“Quiet please, Mr. Wilbert.” Madison lowered her body to the creature, her hands now caressing its still body, as if showing she meant no harm. She looked toward its tail, now letting go of the rope, trusting completely on her instinct. Peter stopped struggling and watched.
“There, I think it’s caught on something.” Coby pointed at its tail.
Madison started to walk towards it, carefully with every step. The tail was tangled up in fishing net, layers and layers of it. Madison took out her cutting knife and started working on freely it. “Lower the boat, let’s get to work,” the captain commanded. Peter tried to protest, but the captain held up his hand, “We do not harm those who came with peace.” That was indeed his motto, one he had abided by the 30 years he’d been sailing.
Coby watched it unfold in amazement. He saw them freely the creature, and getting back on board safely. He watched the creature gentle swimming away, jumping out of the water more than 100 feet away from them, its body full of life and endless joy. He then saw more of them in different sizes swam up to their saved one. Together they slowly disappeared off the horizon. He had only then noticed that the sun was setting, and supper hour was approaching. He recalled the day they had, all kinds of emotions running by him altogether. One in particular had lasted; excitement, a rush of blissful amazement of the life on sea. He leaned his elbows on the bulwark and tried to look as far as he could, breathing in the salty yet fresh air, his heart pumping fast. For the first time, the thought of his father’s illness did not produce sadness.
“The island, over there, to the north. That’s where we would go on the next voyage.” Madison had come up to him. Coby followed where she pointed. Far, far away, he could see the shape of some land. “What is there?” he asked. Madison smiled, “That’s what we are going to find out.” She’s turned around now, leaning her back on the wooden bulwark. “Anyone curious enough to know could join us.” “But I…I want to. I can’t… My father.” Coby said quietly though his heart was alarming a different answer. “My task is to find Dr. Williams, pass the note and bring the doctor back to my father, back to where I belong,” he went on, as if convincing himself.
Then the bell rang and it was supper time.
The rest of the journey went by peacefully. Madison taught Coby other types of knots, and Peter even gave him a small knife and showed him a useful combat move. Coby learned quickly, which made Peter proud.
On the sixth morning, Coby’s feet were on solid ground again. The unfamiliar stillness of the land brought him waving sensations. But he quickly gathered himself, and remembered his mission. He shook hands with the captain, giving his thanks to the whole crew, and only waved his goodbye to Madison.
He walked into the new town. With every step he took, he remembered the urgency of it. Coby picked up his pace, and within a short period of time, he had stood in front of the doctor’s house. It had a beautifully decorated entrance with fresh flowers. The scent had reminded him of home, where his father would, with every chance, bring back fresh lilies from the market, and eventually started a garden in the backyard. Their backyard lilies were no competition to these. He couldn’t help but to feel the petals, so vibrant and pure.
“Their fragrance is said to help people breath better,” a woman had come to the door with a bucket of water in her hand. She was in a modest dress, her hair tied up behind her in a pony tail, everything clean but her hands. There were dirt residues left from attending to the garden work. Coby took a good look at her, lost for a second. The spirit she gave out was so heartening and dear, he felt like he had known her for a long time. Remembering where he was, Coby quickly lowered his head to show curtesy, like his father had taught him. “Good morning, ma’am. I am Coby from the West islands. I am here to seek the help of Dr. Williams. You see, my father is very ill, and he said Dr. Williams would be able to help. Please, it’s an urgent matter.” He spoke quickly. Coby’s mind is now focused on his father, the only family member he had, the only person close to him. “Coby, what a nice name. Why don’t come in and we can talk.”
The nice lady led him into the house. The inside of it didn’t look as small as the exterior. The woman had done a great job decorating it. The living room by the fireplace was bright with the curtains open. There were two armchairs and a small table. The chair further away from the fireplace looked more used than the other. They walked by the hallway where a bookshelf stood. From a glance, Coby saw medical books with titles he couldn’t fully understand. There were vials with labels on the shelves, too.
She led him to the dining area and they sat across from each other.
“Now, tell me about your father’s illness,” she said, with a warm smile. “He’s grown very weak. He was the best fisherman and now has trouble walking. Here, he gave me a note to pass to Dr. Williams. This should explain everything,” he took out the piece of paper that was given to him, still looking around for the sign of the doctor. “Is he going to be here soon?”
The woman chuckle lightly. She extended her hand to receive the note. “My sweet child. I am the Dr. Williams you are referring to. Though people don’t call me that around here. Now, let’s see,” she began reading the letter. Upon reading the first line, her hands started trembling. Coby thought he saw tears in her eyes too. She covered her mouth to stifle a scream. She looked up at Coby. Indeed, there were tears, and they were sliding down her cheek like raindrops.
“Is it bad? Please help, Dr. Williams.” Coby said pleadingly. He never thought it was that bad, until now. “What is your name child?” she asked.
“Coby. My name is Jacob Jones. What about my father’s illness? We must go at once.” Dr. Williams came up and hug Coby tightly. For what felt like minutes, Coby did not move. Though he knew the urgency, the familiar scent and touch made him unable to move away.
She let go first.
“Yes. Yes, we must,” Dr. Williams said, pacing around thinking what to do next. She turned to Coby, “tell me more about your family please, Jacob,” as if making an effort to be calm. Coby found her unusual yet at the same time pleasant. “It’s just my father and me. We don’t have other families left. My mother had left when I was little. She…umm… My father told me that she was great person. She needed to help more people that’s why she couldn’t stay.”
“And do you despite her for that?”
“Not the least. Father always speaks fondly of her. Maybe one day I’ll see her again, maybe not. But knowing she’s helping the others makes me feel proud of her.”
“Oh, sweet child. Your father is a great man.”
“The lilies you have out there. My father does the same thing. He said it reminds him of her, my mother that is,” he smiles, remembering his words and became embarrassed. “Now would you come with me to see my father?”
“Yes, we should go at once,” she said resolutely.
There was a knock on the door. Dr. Williams walked out of the dining room to greet the visitor. They talked in low volume. Coby spotted the note left on the table. It had never occurred to him to read it, but now he was curious. Coby came running out of the dining room, straight into Dr. Williams arms. She knew at an instant what had taken place. The visitor was in shock. “Is everything okay, Dr. Jones? Who’s this young man?”
“Yes. Everything is well. It’s wonderful,” she barely made out the blissful words.
 
My dearest Lily:
I ache for my longing thoughts of you. Forgive me for I am a fraud. I am guilty of deceiving our child, as it is my wish for him to grow independent and explore the unknown world; a goal I know in my heart he desires for. He’s an intelligent one, much like his mother. I am not a sick parent but a proud one, for I know our son would succeed on his own.
I regret ever standing in the way of your dreams to be of service of the unwell ones, as I can see clearly now.
Not a day went by without my thoughts with you. I only seek forgiveness.
And perhaps, you could find it in your heart to grant my wish of seeing your face once more.
 
 With love, always,
Jones