Facing the wharf, I closed my eyes, feeling the wind caress my skin. I was driving for an hour, clueless on where to go before I reached this wharf.

Currently leaning towards my motorcycle, I allowed the wind to play with my hair. I breathed and noticed how cold this night is.

I am a lost soul with nowhere to go.

I noticed small lights moving from afar.

With no intention to tie my hair, I started walking towards what I felt are fishermen.

Holding something, I saw the younger one tried his best to put that into a small boat, but it was swaying in unison with the waves— making it hard for the boy.

The older man is closely watching the younger one with his hands crossed on his chest, making him do all of it by himself alone.

I had nothing to do, so I walked until I reach them. The sound of my heels ticking on the floor seemed to catch their attention.

The younger one turned his head first and I frowned when he almost fell down the water when he decide to let go of the net.

Fortunately, the older one who seemed to be keenly watching his every move is fast to hold him by the shirt.

The boy scratched the back of his head and showed me an embarrassed smile. The older man only smiled at me a little as an acknowledgment of how his son acted.

The night is cold and they are out here fighting with the waves and the wind.

People do everything to live this life, yet someone out there is busy plotting how to end lives. How to make someone suffer when they obviously just want to live the best out of their life.

It is cruel, don’t you think?

“I wanted to fish too,” I said and saw the younger one dropped his jaw.

He looked back at his father, like he heard something wrong, and then back at me and what I was wearing.

“But I do not know if a boat is already available at this hour ma’am,” the younger one said, scratching the back of his head. Maybe pertaining to a yacht.

“I wanna tag along. ” I said abruptly.

“To fish,” I added and looked at the net.

How long has it been since I last fish I wonder? That was long long ago...

“We’ll be back at 4,” this time it is the older man who talked.

I cannot see anything in his eyes aside from his careful observation of how I react to the information.

I nodded.

He turned to urge his son to board the boat. Immediately, I felt the coldness and roughness of the floor when I removed my heels off my feet. Careful as a cat, I successfully managed to balance myself. I stepped on the big net they will be using to fish later and positioned myself in the middle to sit.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

The boat moved on the side when the older man placed himself, but within a minute, the placement of the boat become stable.

I saw him pull something and the engine started.

This is how they survive life. Every night traveling the sea, embracing the coldness and the darkness of the night, with little lights guiding their path.

I tore off my sight of him and I carefully placed my fingers on the water to mark a line on the ocean, a normal thing people would do.

I was immediately drowned by the mystery of the ocean. I moved my hand towards the water, like the caressing of its shallow body will reach the deepest and darkness of it.

Hours of sailing and roaring of the engine, the boat finally come to a stop.

I guess it’s time to fish.

Since I am sitting above the net, I decided to jump out of the boat. I let myself feel the coldness of the water in this dark silent night.

Throwing the net on the sea would be a trouble if I wouldn’t step out of the boat because I was sitting just above it, making it harder for them to gather it all.

Besides, I feel like the ocean is pulling me to dive in, no matter how this is out of my plan.

I brought myself up after minutes of diving and was welcomed by the panic and fear in the younger boy’s eyes.

How easily shaken.

An image of a 15 years old girl in a compartment crossed my mind.

“I can swim. ” I declared to somehow lessen his panic and shock.

He just nod but I can still see something in his eyes. He tore his eyes on me and busied himself with the net. The older man inspected me for a second, then his eyes flew to the boy.

I sense some emotion in it but it was immediately covered as he turn to the sea.

I watched them for a moment before diving again. It was as if something has bothered them.

I swimmed and swimmed until I’m fully satisfied and decided to get myself out of the water.

They spent hours doing what they normally do, and I seated, watching, and waiting for them patiently in the boat.

If ever the heavens will offer me to live like they do I would definitely switch places.

They live a hard life but it is better than my dark life.

The world should have not made me experience a bright life then take it away from me immediately.

I can see some lights away from us and I believe those are other fishermen striving to catch something for their families.

I have no money in here but an atm card. I should have brought cold cash.

We are sailing the way back home, the light of the lighthouse is showing from afar, when I saw something move in the water.

A dog.

Why is it here swimming alone in the sea?

I turned to ask the boat to stop for a while but it seems like the old man has been observant of me for a while, so he immediately nod without me saying a word.

I swimmed and reach for the dog to settle him in the boat.

He has the size of a normal dog. He looked so tired of swimming. His fur, his feet, and his eyes are very evident of it. I searched for a nearby boat where he may fell out but found none. I also didn’t notice a person from where he came from.

He is shaking and the cold wind is not helping to soothe him tonight.

I attended to him until we reached the wharf.

He is also alone now.

We’ve got out the boat, with me carrying the dog and them gathering all the fishes they caught this night. He is a bit heavy because he is already big, so I renewed my hand on him, properly carrying him.

The cold wind blew again, so I embraced the dog more to make him feel my warmth because I felt him shiver again.

With a little smile on my lips, I turned to them for this silent accomodating night.

It’s time to go home.

“Thank you,” I said despite the wind blowing my hair and covering my face.

They both smiled wide and warm at me.

“You can find us here if you wanted to tag along with us to fish again Miss.” said the young one with a warm smile.

But I do not know whether I can have time to explore with unknown people like this again. I do not own my time.

“But the next time you should bring a jacket to keep you from freezing,” he said smiling wide at me.

The older man ruffled the young one’s hair before turning to me.

“It would be nice sailing with you again,” this time his smile held something on me.

I felt something tug in my heart.

And If only I would allow myself I would run to hug them, but instead, I renewed my hold on the dog.

Some people can really treat you better than your family. And a person who is left without a family to call, wavers easily to this kind of warmth offered.

I nod at them to confirm my departure. I pick my heels up and climbed up my motorcycle with the dog as my companion for the night.

A little warmth to a cold drive.