Short Stories By Pink
A Captain's Ship
Matilde seized the steering wheel of her ship. Freezing water rained down on her as the thunder roared like a dragon. She headed for a familiar small port, though she couldn't see it — nor the village beside it. The storm swallowed everything, rain blurring what little the waves let her glimpse."We're gonna crash, captain!" one of her men screamed.They wouldn't. She had docked in that port dozens of times, she knew it as well as her own twin sisters. The waves kept growing, wrenching her hand from the wheel and throwing her back as one slammed into the ship's side. Her head throbbed where she'd hit the deck. The boards vibrated underneath her, the hull scraping against rock. She stumbled up, seizing the wheel again as the storm turned more violent around them.Fuck. He'd been right; no amount of experience could get them into that port."We're going back into the sea!" she called out between claps of thunder.Matilde gripped the wheel and steered away from land. The men around her pushed and pulled on ropes, shouting at each other. She set the course for Glaia. It would take time to get there, but the storm showed no signs of calming down. The port was safe. It had a bay to dock in. They needed to check the hull damage as soon as possible, but could only do so once they were clear of waves as tall as a ship's mast.
A Widow's Torment
Her decaying husband stumbled toward her from across their chambers. Every step he took was uncertain; he looked like he could fall at any moment, despite that he reached her and sat on the bed beside her. His greying hand cupped her face; it was so cold. Then, he gave her a lopsided smile."Did you let me die?" he spoke slowly, sweetness in his words.She opened her eyes. Siena slid from the bed and walked to the basin at the corner of the room, gripping either side of it as she stared at herself in the mirror hanging above.Every night she had the same nightmare, and every time he came to ask her the same question. His sweetness was the worst part; he wasn't even angry at her.Tears slid down her cheeks and splashed softly in the water below.Of course she didn't let him die! She did everything she could. He was given a proper burning; she dressed him in his best clothes to greet Suli. She had loved him; she took care of him until his very final day. She had called for countless doctors and healers. It wasn't her fault that they couldn't heal him! By the stars, what else could she have done?He was supposed to cross the realms of men and ascend to his judgement.If she had done everything right, why did he plague her?