Still Standing (A Foxtales Entry)

She stared out over the water, the salted wind biting definition through her pale cheeks. She stood entranced in the soft slap of the waves against the wall, the scrambling and screech of passing gulls, the ebbing shouts of the docks; the same voice split over generations. There was peace here, in the steady passage of life. A heartbeat that was not her own, that kept on beating no matter the storm. Great waves had swept channels over the wall, cracks chased up the lighthouse, ships had sunk, lives had been broken, but still, the pulse remained. He would never love her again, she knew that now. Her love had made him brave, brave to pursue what he really wanted, and he did. The cold air lifted under her hair, the chill of absent caress touching her neck. His heart never bore her name, it had always been someone else. She would never have been enough. Not for him. The low clang, the tired creak of a boat, paint peeling as it dipped, bobbing past her. She stared out over the water, the salted wind biting definition through her pale cheeks, her chin nestling on her fists, the last note he wrote her slipping unseen below the waves.

This was a heartfelt one with the ocean elements, I wanted to tell this story the moment I saw the prompt, although equally have a clamor of other ideas, I don't know if i will get to writing them before the deadline, so posting this one alone.

This is my entry to the true gem of a contest #foxtales run by @vermillionfox - find the latest round here these run every week, and you can enter up to 3 stories, each under 300 words. There are a few days left so head over and give it a go!

Photo Credit - artwork provided by @vermillionfox - she always gifts us such wonderful prompts, but this one, oh my, an endless well of inspiration <3 thank you