Читать книгу Over the Ocean, Over the Sea - Y. Yoshi - Страница 12

Day 25

The sea is kind to me.

That’s what Rei said when he came back from fishing this morning.

The storm grew overnight. When Rei slipped out through the shutters, the wind that came in through the gap was so strong that it felt like a typhoon had come in. It honestly felt like a miracle that Rei came back unscathed AND dry. Only his hair was a little damp.

He wasn’t clear about where he went for the food nor about how he got it. The only thing he said was that “the sea is kind to me”. In his own words, whatever he needed or wanted the sea has always provided. Like a mother, he said.

Needless to say, I didn’t step out today. Just hearing the winds and the thunder, it sounds like an apocalypse out there. And the fact that Rei went out…

I guess there’s a reason why he’s alive.

Day 26

The storm hasn’t let up. Rei went out again and came back with shellfish and crabs. He checked on the boat and said that it was fine too. Thankfully. He also said that based on the weather patterns, the winds should change in our favour soon.

I asked him a few things about himself. He seemed more willing to divulge after that night.

He’s apparently been here his whole life. His first memory was waking up in the waters around here as a child. But he’s never even met the original inhabitants of this place. Whatever he shared about them was gleaned from old records that he found in some of the other houses over the years. The ability to read and write apparently came to him naturally.

The only other humans (he emphasised on this word a lot, for some reason) Rei has ever met were the ones who got washed up here. But no one has ever managed to leave the island. That he has mentioned before.

That’s honestly troubling. Maybe that’s why he’s so worried about my wellbeing.

After that question, he grew unwilling to say more. And he started asking about me instead. So I told him about my childhood, growing up near the coast, going to school. About my family’s trading business, travelling around and making deals when I grew old enough. I suppose that was enough to satisfy him. He didn’t ask any more.

I can’t imagine how lonely he must’ve been through all his years here though.

Day 27

The storm is still raging. Rei hasn’t returned. Maybe he went back to the cave and got stuck there.

Day 28

He’s still hasn't come back. I hope nothing bad happened. He should be capable of taking care of himself out there… Right?

Day 29

The storm lost its intensity this evening and Rei finally came back late at night. But something didn’t feel right though.

He looked pale. Very pale. I mean, his usual skin tone already was pale but this time, he looked weak, maybe even sick. He was exhausted too. He fell asleep the moment he stumbled into my arms.

What bothered me the most is the long red lines, like welts, all over the skin of his arms and torso. They remind me of jellyfish stings. But this looks much worse, more severe. I can’t imagine what could’ve ..

He just woke up, screaming and in tears. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what happened while he was gone to make him like this. What do I do? How do I fix this?

My chest hurts

Day 30

It’s still raining. But less now, I think. It might clear up tomorrow.

Rei has been quiet. He’s eaten but that’s all he’s done today. He wouldn’t say what happened.

We both stayed in today.