Navigator

"to Karen, for her wonderful idea"

«When I was little, my biggest dream was to see the sea. "That world full of water and life that my father talked so much about."

He told me that it was immense; as much as the earth itself, as much as that forest in which we lived. And like a child's dream, it finally came true one day.

It was the day of the tenth anniversary of my birth. For months my parents had planned to take that trip as a birthday gift.

Then, the long-awaited day arrived.

I remember that the night before I could hardly sleep, the desire for dawn did not allow me. And of course, I was awake long before my parents did.

"Dad, mom, come on, wake up," he called before the sun had risen.

−stooop, please− my father protested - it's still too early.

Giving a long sigh; My mother opened her eyes and gave me a smile.

−Happy anniversary my son−

I continued to insist until they finally decided to leave the bed.

The trip seemed endless to me. Trees and more trees. Birds and other animals that, as we walked, strayed from the path.

Some people greeted us; and some acquaintances even congratulated me. We had to make a stop to visit an old friend of my mother's. An elderly woman who lived very secluded within the Forgotten Forest, and who was only visited very rarely by an unusual couple in those places.

I still remember her.

How can we forget that girl who always carried two axes hanging on her hips, and always wore a red hood?

In addition, the scars on his chest also attracted attention, and that fierce look, yet so full of life.

On the other hand there was the boy who was always with her. Or at least the few times we went to visit and met. Eyes of different colors; one blue, the other green. He also carried a bow and everything indicated that they were a couple.

Luckily, the stop was brief. Just an exchange of a few words between my mother and her, and we continued the journey. Several hours passed until we finally reached our destination; and to even greater surprise, the journey did not end there. It was the detail that I didn't know.

"Ehh, captain, everything is ready," a man shouted on top of a boat.

But my vision was lost. I contemplated in wonder that everything my father had told me was true. The sea was immense. So much; that was lost in sight. Nothing compared to the lakes I was used to when we went hunting together.

The breeze was soft, and the movement of the waves accompanied by their hitting the shore, made me wish at that moment that I could live in that place forever. Or at least close enough that I could visit it whenever I felt like it.

«A child's desires are a dangerous thing»

"Hey, they're talking to you," my father commented behind me as he placed a hand on my shoulder.

It was then that I came back from all my thoughts.

-With me?- I looked at the man in the boat in amazement.

"Yes, my captain," he responded while motioning for us to get on. "Come on, we're getting late."

I looked back at my father. He answered with a smile

-Today is the day that my son will know the sea, and he will do it as it should be. And he burst out laughing like only a man of the sea knows how to do.

Then I knew, it wouldn't be just any anniversary. We would go to sea, sail, I would get to know the life my father led before he met my mother.

It was a quiet trip. At least the first day of sailing. My father told me about his experiences, about his adventures. I continued observing, contemplating the immensity of those waters that seemed to have no end.

Several times we saw fish jump out of the water, and they did nothing but jump for joy, shouting to my father.

-Did you see it, dad, did you see it?-

He did nothing but smile and nod his head. Like this, for several hours. I had forgotten to eat something and my body demanded food. When I was returning from the end of the boat then, the worried face of the man who called me captain caught my attention.

He gestured to my father and looked at me. He almost smiled, but still, he couldn't hide his mood. When I looked back then I understood.

Among the many things that my father had told me about the sea, I also learned that it is extremely dangerous. Clouds; Previously white that adorned a completely blue sky, now they were black and full of fury. The weather had changed and we had to return.

Among the many things that my father had told me about the sea, I also learned that it is extremely dangerous. Clouds; Previously white that adorned a completely blue sky, now they were black and full of fury. The weather had changed and we had to return.

The wind had become stronger, the waves heavier and more violent. They crashed and rocked the boat, although not as much.

My father then ordered me to go to his side, and so I did.

"It's changing very quickly, sir," commented the helmsman. "I think...

And the weather really changed quickly. Everything around us became a real hell of water and wind. The boat was moving suddenly and I had trouble staying upright.

Things got worse when a wave tore off one of the planks of the hull. The water penetrated and the boat sank.

Then another wave ended up breaking it and we all fell into the water. In the jump, when our boat broke, I was separated from my father. But he had managed to see it for a brief second, in the air, impaled by a piece of wood.

In the water I struggled to stay afloat. I knew how to swim, but I had never done it in those conditions. For minutes I fought the sea, caught one of the floating planks and held on firmly to it. Then I got carried away.

I was personally getting to know both sides of the sea. The softness and beauty it can show on the one hand; and the mortal danger it can lead you to, on the other hand.

I was dragged, adrift, at the mercy of those waters that I loved at first. I was holding on tightly to the only thing that kept me alive, but my strength was beginning to fail. I was thrown into the air, fell, sank and came up again. The lightning blinded me. The waters had turned cold and the limbs were already beginning to fail. Another shake of the waves and I was stripped of the only thing that could save me.

I fell again, no longer having the strength to do anything else. I was fading, my eyes were closing, but I could still see the flashes of the sky, and I felt the movement of the waters that covered me. I slowly sank, my vision blurred and I knew I was lost.

"My first day of sailing will be my last," he thought.

Another flash of lightning illuminated the surface, leaving everything in darkness again. One more, and I could see the outline of a human figure. Someone, or something was next to me.

He held me by the arm, led me out of the water. I managed to breathe, but I had already exhausted my strength. Another flash of the sky, and I barely thought I saw my mother's face. Or maybe not. Then I couldn't see or feel anything anymore.

When I opened my eyes, I was lying on the sand of this island. I have lived here since then.

And here is the rest of my life. I buried my father next to my mother. Also to the man who called me captain. And on the second day of having been on this island, I was able to see her one night, while she was coming out of the sea.

She stopped for a few moments lying on the edge of the beach. Where there should have been legs, there was a fish tail, and it was very beautiful. She was also a girl, although she wasn't quite human.

-And the rest of the story, you already know son-

Since then, we have lived on this island. It's been 15 years since my supposed shipwreck, and I'm sure everyone thinks I'm dead. My son helps me by hunting the occasional animal in the small jungle, where we find almost everything.

My daughter is with her mother, swimming underwater somewhere. Sometimes we all go into the forest; Others, we all go swimming.

When we kissed for the first time, it was very intense. That kiss allowed me to breathe underwater.

Karen. It's the name I gave him. when I opened my eyes in this place and I thought I was alone. She, like me, had lost her family. Since then we have each other. She in the sea, I on land; on a remote island unexplored by humans.

That is the only way a man can be happy with a mermaid.