ManyWriters

In the year I lost both my parents, my mother's closest friend, who I affectionately called Auntie, welcomed me into her home.
She nurtured me with great care and affection, offering support and a depth of love I had never experienced before.
As a young lad experiencing his first crush, I secretly promised myself that I would wed my aunt when I became an adult.
Yet, during my coming-of-age celebration, when I finally mustered the courage to express my feelings for her, she reacted with anger!
She considered my affection a breach of moral standards, violating ethical and social norms.
From that point forward, she became increasingly aloof and distant. She even consented to an arranged marriage with the Lombart Family, effectively crushing any hope I had harbored.
Devastated, I abandoned my aspirations. I embarked on a freight vessel destined for far-off lands, resolved to leave everything behind.
Nevertheless, Auntie wept uncontrollably and pleaded with me to face her once more.

Aunt's Forbidden Love

The deep bellow of the freighter announced its departure from the coast. I perched on the deck, watching my familiar world dissolve into the distance.


I switched off my cellphone, disregarding Auntie's furious texts.


Regardless of her reasoning, nothing could excuse her part in the theft of my work. I, Joey Chaplan, would never lower myself to pleading.


On the seventh day of our journey at sea, an unexpected sight emerged. A small vessel was closely following our ship.


Harry's face grew stern as he urged me to seek shelter in the cabin. He cautioned, "That might be pirates."


My inquisitiveness got the better of me. I grabbed some binoculars and peered through them.


To my amazement, the "pirates" were led by a woman sporting pink pigtails, a skull tattoo on her shoulder, and an eyepatch.


Suddenly, a crew member yelled from the deck, "Caution! We're about to collide with a reef!"


9#09