Left.... Right.... Left.... Right....1075Please respect copyright.PENANAkUwrR0st8L
1075Please respect copyright.PENANAUr0M7RZpqB
The swaying of the ship seemed almost hypnotic as the lights slowly went out on deck, leaving just the small fairy lights twinkling, a simulacrum of the night sky. Passengers stumbled back to their rooms on the ship, the after-effects of the night's partying clear to see - some staggered off in groups of 5 or more, still clenching their glasses and laughing raucously as they disappeared down the stairs; others dangled uselessly like rag dolls between their more sober friends, barely conscious enough to put one foot in front of the other; and still more were left to doze on the deck, the metal dishes that had earlier held chips now cradled the heads of sleepy drunks. A 'Just Married' sign looked down on the scene, the couple in question having snuck off a few hours into their wedding party, to 'continue the festivities' below deck.1075Please respect copyright.PENANAETbQTU8dat
1075Please respect copyright.PENANAPz3EAlmMFM
...::..::..::...1075Please respect copyright.PENANAx0GlN2E9YQ
1075Please respect copyright.PENANAU27qZSZvZK
The bell, hung in the top corner of the doorframe, rang for the first time in a long while. All the heads in the cramped office turned to see who it might be. A young couple, still caught in the awed stage of "I can't believe we're getting married", strolled through the glass doors of the tour agency, fingers tightly linked. The girl smiled sweetly at the nearest tour agent and dragged her fiancée (her fiancée! The thought still made her giggle) over to the counter.1075Please respect copyright.PENANAW7l4smcyvY
1075Please respect copyright.PENANAikSuojgMhr
One of the posters tacked on to the display board caught her eye1075Please respect copyright.PENANA6FYN4queK5
1075Please respect copyright.PENANAmkB0Akhb5F
"The ride of your life!"1075Please respect copyright.PENANA71G92xC1rT
1075Please respect copyright.PENANAKcQ4R40BAk
"Unparalleled delights, unimaginable fun, and everlasting memories to be had!"1075Please respect copyright.PENANAcrVXxs851U
1075Please respect copyright.PENANA9WoGSsGdTV
The cruise ship was marketed as the best out there for people searching for an unforgettable experience, with voyages to exotic locations and low prices. Still reeling from the various student debts they'd accumulated through college, the young couple jumped on the opportunity of a cheap, but memorable wedding. Better yet, the girl excitedly whispered into her fiancé's ear, a wedding on a ship - how much more romantic can it get?1075Please respect copyright.PENANASmu5TGYx9V
1075Please respect copyright.PENANApAIFhm5jfs
...::..::..::...1075Please respect copyright.PENANAsB6XS4WPkq
1075Please respect copyright.PENANAdAejtK39ij
The young man smiled as he watched his wife-to-be float down the aisle on the arm of her proud father. She brought up her bouquet to hide her wide smile before she remembered that there was a veil, then had to fight the urge to turn and press her blushing face into her father's arm. The pair had reached the altar by this point, and she took her husband-to-be's outstretched arm, brimming with happiness at the thought of finally being married to this man.1075Please respect copyright.PENANAg8skpufgmu
1075Please respect copyright.PENANAfJk4p0e0Lg
The ceremony passed in a blur - the pair would be hard-pressed to say what they recalled of the priest or his message - but it all sharpened - like the smell of the sea-salt in the air - as the priest blessed their marriage, and "you may now kiss the bride" echoed in their ears. The two happily obeyed, lips meeting in a soft press as their joy overflowed. The crowd cheered along with them, celebrating with them. Finally breaking apart, the married couple smiled bashfully at their guests. She wondered if she would remember this moment forever.1075Please respect copyright.PENANAhrVm3AFWTx
1075Please respect copyright.PENANAic5hevZ8vc
A wonderful memory. Shared with all of these people.1075Please respect copyright.PENANAmVIA41hGWG
1075Please respect copyright.PENANAIhuhlMRXjS
Shared with friends and family.1075Please respect copyright.PENANAcwToB0M5ed
1075Please respect copyright.PENANADX8HxylS1D
...1075Please respect copyright.PENANAsFvQFL0eaR
1075Please respect copyright.PENANAHqAfLp2hbX
And strangers.1075Please respect copyright.PENANAS35CEEDy5M
1075Please respect copyright.PENANARJy83XeayM
...::..::..::...1075Please respect copyright.PENANAQY0YcMYMAk
1075Please respect copyright.PENANAuln2DLA9Ba
They'd been on this ship for... A day? A couple days? He looked down at his wife, still dressed in her flowing white gown, the gown that now matched her flowing white hair, still held up in twists and pins - like on their wedding day. She smiled up at him, and, with a smile on her face, closed her eyes.1075Please respect copyright.PENANAa3HlOnyohS
1075Please respect copyright.PENANAKQnbzqjM8h
...::..::..::...1075Please respect copyright.PENANA1K8Uru1nay
1075Please respect copyright.PENANAIWV1m2O668
Her lids slip shut.1075Please respect copyright.PENANA0woPBvPXEa
1075Please respect copyright.PENANAgTvRZxRhZq
She dreams.1075Please respect copyright.PENANA9J1qAASGf0
1075Please respect copyright.PENANAcYyKtiqe8g
She crumbles.1075Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2YBFppCSJ
1075Please respect copyright.PENANAIAVNVDUcDJ
...::..::..::...1075Please respect copyright.PENANASbfPcoxuQk
1075Please respect copyright.PENANA0IQ42OEKWu
The old man returns to his cabin, alone. He sits silently at his desk, makes a mark on the notepad in front of him, like he's done every night. Today's different though: today, he sits there and writes.1075Please respect copyright.PENANAMDSOFn9uaS
1075Please respect copyright.PENANACxb8DBCTDI
...::..::..::...1075Please respect copyright.PENANAPiDykpSlsn
1075Please respect copyright.PENANAWKVk0Lwgt3
Left.... Right.... Left.... Right....1075Please respect copyright.PENANAC1SLC82gcO
1075Please respect copyright.PENANAum7HQJ6xH5
The swaying of the ship seems almost hypnotic as the lights slowly go out on deck, leaving just the small fairy lights twinkling, a simulacrum of the night sky. Passengers stumble back to their rooms on the ship, the after-effects of the night's partying clear to see - some staggering off in groups of 5 or more, still clenching their glasses and laughing raucously as they disappear down the stairs; others dangle uselessly like rag dolls between their more sober friends, barely conscious enough to put one foot in front of the other; still more left to doze on the deck, the metal dishes that had held chips now cradling the heads of sleepy drunks. A 'Just Married' sign looks down on the scene, its frayed edges flapping gently in the breeze.1075Please respect copyright.PENANAZNg2Trf0GG
1075Please respect copyright.PENANAl6UeXlRlWQ
An old man sits on the deck and as the wind blows, his hair flutters for a moment, then is swept up in the air currents like puffs of dandelion fluff. His once pristine wedding suit now hangs off his haggard frame, the red rose he'd tucked into his lapel - just that morning, he was sure - having crumbled to pieces - much like his wife. His hands fumble as he tries to stuff a note into a bottle, fingers slipping with the cork multiple times before he finally manages to stopper it properly. He clenches the bottle tightly in his hands, and closes his eyes.1075Please respect copyright.PENANAHw2CeJbR9g
1075Please respect copyright.PENANAqgkockNeBY
...::..::..::...1075Please respect copyright.PENANASnTTYg5y6B
1075Please respect copyright.PENANABGLropVXoX
An old man sits on 'The Dreamliner' and dreams.1075Please respect copyright.PENANAJZtYMR0SaP
1075Please respect copyright.PENANANwEQHKkLWz
His eyes slip shut.1075Please respect copyright.PENANAjlJc73k7u6
1075Please respect copyright.PENANAwrzXKmlG9X
He crumbles.1075Please respect copyright.PENANAu1GIl4YWmc
1075Please respect copyright.PENANAzkGai2wilP
...::..::..::...1075Please respect copyright.PENANAOtweBVuFlf
1075Please respect copyright.PENANA7IX6XGieTy
A bottle washes up on the shores of Pelican Island. Children dig it up out of the sand with their little shovels, grabbing it with their little grubby hands. The parents aren't as amused by it at first - it's like the feeling you get when your cat brings you a dead rodent on your birthday with a self-satisfied smirk on it's stupid cat face - but then they pull out the letter wedged in the bottle.1075Please respect copyright.PENANAdRCQ20MuCB
1075Please respect copyright.PENANA94cSV4b6Lx
One side of the yellowing paper is covered in black marks, neat rows of |||||s filling in the lines, like a tally sheet from a generation ago. The other gives the black marks a much more somber meaning.1075Please respect copyright.PENANAsl0dgarUsV
1075Please respect copyright.PENANAFeq8cTfY4f
"Left.... Right.... Left.... Right.... ..."1075Please respect copyright.PENANAaREBP8cBfX
arrow_back
Adrift
more_vert
-
info_outline Info
-
toc Table of Contents
-
share Share
-
format_color_text Display Settings
-
exposure_plus_1 Recommend
-
Sponsor
-
report_problem Report
-
account_circle Login
Search stories, writers or societies
Continue ReadingClear All
What Others Are ReadingRefresh
X
Never miss what's happening on Penana!
Adrift
Author:
Cherrywoodandwalnut
ISSUE #1
LIKES 0
READS 1071
BOOKMARKS 0
campaign
Request update 0
Sponsor
Login with Facebook
or Sign up/Login to comment or bookmark! Click to load the next chapter
X
After each update request, the author will receive a notification!
smartphone100
→ Request update
X
Sponsor again
Click to login
Login first to show your name as a sponsor.
Thank you for supporting the story! :)
Please Login first.
×
Adrift
Fantasy
Romance
Last updated: Jul 4, 2015
Total word count: 1,060
Total reading time: 5 Minutes
Writer:
No tags yet.
Report this story
×
Write down what you like about the story
×
Reading Theme:
Font Size:
Line Spacing:
Paragraph Spacing:
Load the next issue automatically
Reset to default
×
People Who Like This
x
Before You Publish
Please ensure your story does not contain illegal, hateful, inciting, or violence-promoting content, or any infringing, plagiarized, or spam material, and that it complies with Penana’s Terms of Use.
Penana reserves the right to remove any content that violates these rules or causes legal or community risk, and to suspend or terminate related accounts.

