Chromosomes: Once upon a time, there was a legend about a lighthouse that turned into a ship and sailed all the seas of the world, and when trying to return, was shattered on the rocks of its childhood. Actually, I can’t imagine anything more terrifying than what happened to poet X, who woke up one morning and discovered that he was poet Y.
Till rocks do us part
1. A legend of the lighthouse, as old as time – and as old as time they were – our lighthouse keepers, who abandoned their families – those who had families – every two months to escape their minds – to explore them there. As one of the keepers was saying goodbye to his beloved wife, she said:
“Till death do us part, right my love?”
“Yes Mary, till death do us part,” he sighed.
They shared a big warm hug, as she saw him disappear into the dark and ominous sea.
As him and his buddy arrived at the familiar island, something felt wrong from the moment they set foot on this land. But these old and strong traditional men ignored their intuition and carried on with their usual practices. It was dark soon after they arrived so they set the less important things aside and they went to do something they deemed more important than bringing coal and heating up the space, drinking booze.
This was their kind of “warming up”. These two were best friends and they enjoyed this alone time with themselves, sometimes maybe a bit too much. They were supposed to be having a very difficult conversation at this time, it was that time of the night, where they were too drunk to speak but their actions spoke louder.
“Why don’t we just run away together!”
sailor n.1 said hopelessly.
“What kind of idea is that? We have wives and kids back at home, who’s gonna take care of them?” said sailor n.2.
“That isn’t important, the most important thing there is is us, and the connection we have,”
said sailor n.1.
“No way, i’m not going anywhere with you this is a part time thing for me, like this job,”
sailor n.2 exclaimed.
These words cut deeper than a rusty knife. His whole world shattered right in front of him, and when sailor n.2 opened the window overlooking the rocks to smoke a cigarette, sailor n.1 pushed him off and watched him roll down, losing a few of his limbs. He followed right after.
This way, they haunt the island and the lighthouse together, forever.
Sailor n.2350
2. It was a normal day for both of them, but a last one for just one of them.
We have all heard the stories about beautiful creatures driving sailors to death, it’s one of the many fantasies sea men caught themselves daydreaming about, amongst the other like finally getting to see the flickering lights of the lighthouse at the nearest and most craved land.
It was their 4th month on the ship, ten men having barely any water left they were starting to lose hope. They missed the still ground, clean clothes and comfortable beds, warm food made with love, and most importantly their wives and mistresses.
The girls knew this, that the men are shallow and they craved the touch and even the slightest sight of a woman more than food to keep them alive. The men they targeted were usually the drunkest sailors, hanging from the side of the ship like a dead fish. The ones that their dreams are only consumed by the longing for the opposite sex.
They knew this, they could feel it from miles away. That’s why it was so easy this time, like every other time.
Thomas was an average sailor, a man, loved women more than the sea. He didn’t really identify with the title of a “sailor” though.
His sea sickness was overwhelming that day, his friends didn’t bother because this was a usual occurrence.
He was looking down at the waves when suddenly he heard a song – a song so beautiful – he forgot the smell of vomit for a second.
He looked up and saw her hair glistening in the warm sun, her skin pale as snow eyes bigger than bugs and bluer than the ocean.
He fell under her spell, jumped to his death, his body – never to be seen again.
Sailors thought he was a madman.
The story of the lost seagull
3. Who likes seagulls? Humans don’t like em, the fish don’t like em – why are they even here? Do they help anybody?
They say God has a different purpose for each living thing on this planet, but what is a seagull’s purpose?
Most people would not think of anything if they saw a seagull, but seeing one for Mathew was the sign of hope.
It was the 231th day on the sea, from the 30 original crew there were just 12 of them left.
They saw nothing but water and blood for the past half a year, and they were starting to lose hope.
They got into a circle to sit down and talk, what else could they do, and one of the sailor asked:
“What is your biggest dream?”
“Currently? To see something other than water,” another sailor laughed awkwardly.
“I would love to see my wife and family again,” said another sailor.
“What’s yours little Mathew?”
They expected him to say candy, or something a little boy would want, even though he’s not as young as you might think.
“A seagull,” he said confidently.
The sailors were surprised, why would he want to see the most annoying bird known to mankind?
A seagull is a sign of hope, for specific people, it’s the sign of a land, a life outside of the ocean, life is near where seagulls reside.
Right after the words left his mouth, they heard a familiar shriek of a white bird, flapping its wings right above their clueless heads.
Rebecca Krajcova
