Relief

The deck was heavy with grief. A silence hung in the air, broken only by the creaking of the sails and the gentle lap of calm waves—as if the storm had never happened. The remnants of chaos were still scattered across the ship: broken barrels, tangled ropes, soaked planks… but none of that compared to the feeling of loss that sat deep in everyone's chest.

Sophia hadn't moved from the spot where she last saw Liam vanish beneath the waves. Her knees hugged to her chest, tears streaming silently down her face as the wind played gently with strands of her golden hair. Eleanor stood beside her, a strong hand resting on her shoulder, eyes glassy but voice steady as she whispered soft reassurances, though her own heart ached just as much.