Come Home, Please Come Home

Little Jade pressed her forehead on the cold, moist window. Looking out, she saw the lantern burning brightly. It was in the same spot in front of the porch where it had been every night for the last three months. "Mommy, when is Daddy coming home?"

Dalia sucked in her breath. Jade had only asked her that question once before, on the first night she had set the lantern in the path.

Vivid memories of her weeping in the path, and Jade fleeing to the safety of her bed flashed through Dalia's mind.

Straightening her spine, she began whispering to herself. "I'm not going to fall apart this time. I will tell her calmly, so she won't be frightened again."

Jade turned and gazed at her mother, her large green eyes almost liquid.

Dalia took a calming breath, then sat in a large, plush chair beside the fireplace. Jade joined her, curling up in her mother's welcoming embrace.

"I don't know, Love. His boat was lost in that awful storm a few months ago. He could be stranded far away, or he might be almost home. Maybe he'll even be back tonight. That's why I leave the lantern out there, to light his way."

Jade scrunched up her face in thought. "Shouldn't he have been back before now if he made it to land?" the girl asked, with the innocent honesty that only children seem to possess.

Dalia stiffened, then forced her muscles to relax. "I'm sure he made it. Maybe he was hurt, or couldn't find a way home right away. We just have to wait for him."

Jade curled in closer. " I hope so, I miss him. He tells the best stories," she replied with a yawn.

"Which was your favorite, Jade?"

"The one about the dolphin who turned into a princess," she replied with a giggle.

"Please tell me the story? Daddy never told me that one."

"Okay, Mommy."

After Jade finished the story, Dalia carried her to her bed. "Good night, Love."

Jade looked at her, with eyes as shiny as the stone she was named after. "Good night. Wake me if Daddy comes back while I'm asleep?"

"I promise."

After she left her daughter's room, Dalia's eyes filled with tears. "She's right, it's been too long. Everyone says so, not just Jade. No, I can't give up. There's still a chance, we don't even know if the Lady was damaged. She could have been blown out to sea."

And so her thoughts chased each other, until close to dawn. As the sky lightened, she grabbed her shawl.

"I'll greet the day by watching the sea. He would like that..."

She strolled just out of reach of the lapping waves. Her foot touched something solid. "A plank. It looks like it's in good shape," she said, tossing it beyond the reach of the next high tide.

Then she glimpsed another dark object. It was smaller, and the waves were tossing it about. Dalia waited patiently for it to wash ashore.

As she looked at it, she sat down hard in the cold Atlantic. The icy water didn't even register.

"It can't be, it can't be," she repeated over and over, as she held her husband's log book close to her chest.

It was soaked, but the gold engraving on the dark leather was unmistakable. The Lady.

From that day on, the lantern remained in the path every night, for the next fifty years.



Describe what you see:
I see a lantern sitting in the dark, on clay or brick tiles. Based on the fog or mist around it, it's outside. It appears to either be in a path, or on a porch.

Describe what you feel:
I feel like it was left burning while its owner went inside. It's a cool or cold night, a wet cold. The picture brings thoughts of loneliness and hope of a reunion.

#pic1000

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63 comments
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Nice! So now we know. Will she tell Jade?

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I think she will - and I think Jade already suspects the truth...

!PIZZA !ALIVE !LOL

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Fantastic story there @wrestlingdesires, and sorry that Jade lost her father, the lamp still gave her hope though, thanks for sharing and stay awesome.



Made in Canva

!ALIVE
!LOLZ

- @flaxz - Admin/Moderator


This post is AWESOME!
It will therefore be highlighted in our daily Curated Collections posting for today.
The goal of this project is to "highlight Awesome Content, and growing the Hive ecosystem by rewarding it".

Source

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Thanks so much, you are truly amazing 🙌

!PIZZA !ALIVE
!LUV

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Thanks a lot, and keep writing awesome content.



Made in Canva

- @flaxz - Admin/Moderator

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I'll do my best to keep improving the quality, thanks so much for your kind words 🙌

!PIZZA !ALIVE !LOL

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Dalia was determined never to give up, her conviction imparts strength and courage
Nice one here

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I'm glad you enjoyed it ♥️

!PIZZA !ALIVE
!LUV

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I lost a friend to the sea so reading this, as they say, "hit home". But, as always, I really liked your story.
!ALIVE

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I'm sorry to hear about your loss 😢 This must have been hard to read...

!PIZZA !ALIVE
!LUV

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This is what good stories do, they bring back memories, some good, some bad.
!ALIVE
!LOL

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Oh wow, what a story of love, longing, devotion, and loss! Beautiful and sad at the same time! 😁 🙏 💚 ✨ 🤙

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Thanks so much :) I do try to write a variety of styles, otherwise I might settle into a pattern. That would be boring for all concerned.

!PIZZA !ALIVE !LOL

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Absolutely, you're very welcome! I think it's a really wonderful thing that you're so versatile in that regard! 😁 🙏 💚 ✨ 🤙

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I'm glad you are liking my work, that motivates me to keep trying harder :) Thank you 🙌

!PIZZA !LUV

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Yes, I am very much! You're a very skilled writer, so it's a pleasure to read your creations! You're so welcome! I still want to read the series to which you sent me a link. My Hive time is usually quite occupied, but I'll make the time very soon! 😁 🙏 💚 ✨ 🤙

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I hope you'll let me know what you think of it :) I know what you mean, there's so much to do on Hive 😲

!PIZZA

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I will indeed, certainly! Oh my yes, soooooo much, and I have various goals and tasks that I set for myself every day too! 😁 🙏 💚 ✨ 🤙

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(Edited)

PIZZA! PIZZA! PIZZA! PIZZA! PIZZA! PIZZA! PIZZA! PIZZA! PIZZA! PIZZA! PIZZA!

PIZZA Holders sent $PIZZA tips in this post's comments:
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Learn more at https://hive.pizza.

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This is a beautiful story with a well scripted ending. Starts with undiluted love and devotion, flows into weariness and a sense of loss, then hope and finally bliss. I'm happy The Lady was found. Wonderfully scripted!

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As always I had a good read. Thanks for this morning's beauty.

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Oh dear Jade. It's going to be very hard for her to accept the fact. He's gone.

Fifty years is quite a long time but I guess it was worth it.

As usual, this was beautifully crafted.✨

Let me go and make my entry💆

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I'll be happy to read your entry next :)

Thanks so much for your kind words 🙌

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The logbook is soaked but still intact after months in the sea. I like to think he plus the crew are still around somewhere.

Thanks for the good morning read. 👌

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I'm honored that you enjoyed it 🙌

Yes, the sea holds many mysteries, as do the stories revolving around it :) ...

Thanks so much for your encouragement ♥️

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What a sad tale. Dear Jade, may she and her mother be granted the strength to go through this loss.
It's usually easier to know that he's dead, that way they can move on but, they don't even know. He could be stuck in an island somewhere for all we know!

Very nice piece!

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Thanks so much :) Yes, shipwrecks do tend to be hard on those left behind...

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Noooo! Sad story😌 as always - great read.
But I demand Dolphin Princes story! I demand it!

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I'll try :) ... If I do, I'll tag you!!!

!PIZZA !ALIVE !LOL

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'If' is not acceptable! 🤣🤣🤣

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