Finn rests his arms over the rail in front of the ship’s wheel, glancing down at Axel and Ryo. Both men climb aboard the ship overwhelmed by the ships large frame and the smell of freshly clean wood. A sense of familiarity washes over Ryo each step he takes across the deck. Each sight and scent guide him up to the wheel, a red wood stands out in the center surrounded by a lighter brown wood. He moves his fingers over the wheel. Pain pulses in the back of his head with an annoying dullness. From behind Finn cross over to the steps and goes down them to meet up with Axel, who remains in his place.
“He knew you would need this one day.” Finn tries to break the silence with a lighthearted comment.
Axel remains silent, his eye gliding from the bow of the ship to the stern. Towering above him, a large mast hides a rolled-up flag tied with thick rope. Beneath his feet the wood creaks each motion he makes to take a step forward. He reaches the other side, looking out onto the still water. Unlike its calm surface, Axel’s mind swirls in confusion from what Finn told him. From behind Finn notices Axel curls up both of his hands into fists on the rail. A slight tremor moves from his feet to his head.
“He also left you this.” Finn reaches into his chest pocket, producing a letter with a red seal on it. He holds it out to Axel’s side. “It’s probably something important.”
Axel lifts his gaze to meet the envelope but swats it away. He tries to hide the scowl beneath his breath. The confusion turns into pain that swirls within his head.
“I don’t need it.” He answers back in a quiet voice.
He turns around, striding over to exit the ship. Finn intercepts him just before he can leave.
Thump!
Both Finn and Axel turn to look at Ryo. He staggers a bit around the ship’s wheel and places his hand on the rail to steady himself. The dull pain grows into a massive headache.
“Are you alright?” Finn asks, concerned.
Shaking off his unsteadiness, Ryo recovers from it. Without saying anything, he simply nodes to Finn. Unsure of what happened, Finn glances back at Axel.
“My boy, I know you don’t view your father favorably, but you mustn’t let those feelings cloud a sound judgement. You need to reach the mainland and for that you need a ship.” Finn throws the facts at Axel, bluntly.
“I don’t need anything that man leaves for me.” His hands still balled into fists; he pushes pass Finn. Pain and confusion reflect on his face, a bubbling anger heating up in the pit of his stomach.
Ryo comes up behind Finn, who lets out a frustrated sigh. “Whether that boy wants to admit it or not he has its his fathers temper and stubbornness.”
“He will accept it” Ryo says.
“What?” Finn turns to face him.
“It will happen.” He doesn’t say anymore and exits off the ship.
“Are you sure your, okay?” Finn asks again.
Ryo stops mid stride but doesn’t look back. “I’m…fine.” He gives a quick answer, leaving Finn alone on the ship’s deck.
Back at the village, Axel tries to take his mind off the ship through work. Sweat drips down the front and sides of his face. Exhaustion builds up through his arms and legs, but he pushes through it. Determination flashes across his eyes with each new push just to get another bit of cleanup done. He finally takes a breath in, and wipes sweat from his forehead. Across from him, the pile of available materials becomes smaller and smaller. House skeletons remain untouched, with many of the village residents now living in tents with reinforced roofs for weather.
“You’re working hard.” A lighthearted voice travels over Axel’s shoulder. Theresa stands behind him with a cool, wet rag in her hands.
“I need to, its my fault things got like this.” Axel admits to her.
“You still blame yourself?” She moves right in front of him. “You need to stop that. It would have happened if not now sometime in the future. We all know it.”
He won’t meet Theresa’s eyes and stares off to the side.
“What happened to jumping into things headfirst.” Theresa scolds him. “You need to start acting like yourself. You said you would help this village, so go ahead and do it.” She points her finger at his chest.
Surprised, he backs away. She continues to stare him down with her strong gaze. Unable to give a respond he rubs the back of his head.
“You also have someone else to help, don’t you?” They both look over, watching Ryo help some villages pull up a wall on a nearby home. The others pat him on the back. Villages, who once avoided him, try to get him to join in their light conversations.
“I think its time you look at the bigger picture. Maybe that will help you get over whatever is keeping you here.” She says to Axel. Children’s laughter echo from behind, and she leaves him alone to join them.
From his place inside the crowd of villagers Ryo makes out the back of Axel, disappearing into the woods.
Later that night, Axel sits at the kitchen table staring at a picture of his baby self in the arms of his father. A small light from the hallway illuminates him and the photo. Beside the table, a small drawstring bag leans up against the counter. A light tab comes from the doorway, catching his attention. Finn stands there with the letter still in his hand. He joins him at the table, sitting in silence.
It takes a few minutes for Finn to form the first sentence in their conversation. “You know, it must be hard especially when he disappeared suddenly.”
He glances down to see the bag. “I guess you have made your decision.”
“I can’t just sit here while the village suffers. We need those supplies, and the only way is across the ocean.” Axel responds back his eyes not leaving the photo.”
“Listen Axel, the feelings of anger and resentment are very strong. So strong that they can lead an individual down a dark and cold abyss. I don’t think any of us, including your father, would want to see that. Take this letter and read it. Even if you can’t come to terms with things now, maybe in the future that will change.” Finn pleads with him like a grandfather would to a grandchild.
He holds out the envelope for Axel to take. With slight hesitation, Axel reaches out to take the other side. “Also, you saw what happened on the ship. I think Ryo will be able to support you. In exchange help him with his memories. Without showing it, I think he may be suffering in his own way too.”
Ryo appears in the doorway, watching them. Seeing it as a cue to leave, Finn rises from his seat. He gives a quick bow to him with a smile on his face then exits out of the house. Leaving them alone, Ryo looks back at Axel, who now stares at the letter in his hands.
“I’m assuming that you have made your decision.” Ryo speaks up.
Pfft.
A little laugher escapes Axel’s lips and he looks at Ryo, any tiredness or confusion from before is gone. “Of course, I did.”
Comments (0)
See all