He left the house each morning as he always had, a bag with his lunch slung over a shoulder.
The harbor was no longer where he had to be, but work never was just an employment. It had been his world. Even more so since Marissa left to roam the realms beyond this world.
To him her current travels were as real as the ships that left for unseen places only to return with goods that others had stacked for his crane to unload.
One day he will sail to where Marissa was.
Till then, he watched each day unfold.
For Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers
Photo prompt: © Roger Bultot
Na'ama Yehuda 
Oh, the poor fool… A guy can dream, though, right?
Wonderful story!
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A fool he may be, but perhaps the docks and view give him something to do, someplace familiar to go …
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There is that… I just hate to think of him waiting for nothing, though.
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Yes … I agree. I hope it is a calm and sweet kind of waiting, in the familiar settings of what gives him comfort, while he knows that the inevitable will come at some point and he is at peace. And not a desperate, shut-down kind of longing. …
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Yes… exactly that.
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🙂 So glad we agree … 🙂 xx
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You doubted? xoxo
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Ya know, ya cannot take it for granted … 😉
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There is that…
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😀 Because, as you know, we’re both nutty enough to find stuff to disagree on, but both friendly enough to remain friends regardless! Eh? 🙂
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Abso-effing-lutely 😉
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😀
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I found this quite calming. Just content to watch the world go by and wait for whatever is in store. Nicely done.
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I’m glad! I think he is quite content, in his way, to go on with his routine as he waits …
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That’s how people deal with grief. Nicely done
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How some deal with it, for sure! Thanks, Neil!
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It think this is lovely. Watching and waiting patiently until it is his time to join Marcia on her travels.
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Yes, seems like he found a spot of balanced calm in the midst of a difficult reality. Thank you, Trish! 🙂
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Marking time with his days. It’s to be hoped things turn out well for him.
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Thank you, Sandra. Yes, it is to be hoped so indeed! 🙂
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Maybe he’ll find a Marissa-replacement and stop dreaming and start living again 🙂
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Ah! That would be absolutely fantabulous! And… I think it is quite possible, too. One never knows. 🙂
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Na’ama Y’karah,
There’s a poignant sweetness to this. To me it seems he’s happy with his life and what he’s done with it. At the same time it’s filled with longing for Marissa. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle! I’m glad that the sweetness and the contentment and the sorrow all got communicated. Sometimes a balance point of peace is more than enough … 🙂
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Quite wistful. He seems happy enough, waiting until his time comes.
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I understand how someone would want to repeat their work-world routines. I did the same (still do the same) when I was first laid off with ill health. I kept to the routine, as much as I could. I’m more relaxed now. But it’s only taken me 14 yrs!
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Yes, I can understand that, too. Hopefully he is content (or content enough) with at least that familiarity and it seems he did not lose a sense of wonder about it, which is good, too! 🙂
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Indeed yes. For once we lose that sense of wonder…
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🙂 true …
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Beautiful story
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Thank you! 🙂
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My pleasure
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🙂
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Sitting, reminiscing, waiting, wondering. Contented. A tender tale.
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Yes, and yes, and yes, and yes, and yes. … 🙂 Thank you, Keith!
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He’ll know when it’s time to meet up with Marissa. Until then, he’ll just rest a while and watch. Lovely piece, Na’ama!
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Thank you, Brenda! Yes, I think he’ll know when it is time. Meanwhile, he watches for the ships that sail and return …
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Waiting with hope in his heart is better than doom and gloom. Well done.
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Thank you, Linda! Yes, hope is better than gloom … 🙂
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Nice character study!
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Thank you my friend! 🙂
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You’re welcome my friend 🙂
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🙂
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Such a love and bittersweet story.
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Thank you, yes, I think it is!
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This reminds me of my grandfather. The last year or so of his life, after losing his second wife, he told me he’s just waiting to die.
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Oh, how sad … 😦
Sometimes there is a knowing, and sometimes there is an acceptance, and sometimes there is grief, and often there’s a combination …
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This is really sad, like his life disappeared. I hope he finds light again.
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I found this rather comforting. Someday I’ll join those friends and loved ones who’ve sailed to the realms beyond this world. Until then I’ll be content and enjoy what’s left of my time here.
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Yes, I think there is comfort in being content in the moment, even with difficult feelings and loss, and finding anchors in things that are familiar and feed a sense of belonging.
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