A Love Undying

He was a sailor who lived upon the seas, who lived for adventure. She was a tailor who lived in a port town, who lived a peaceful life. They met by chance and it was far from love at first sight, the argued and fought, simply polar opposites of one another. But on a stormy eve, the tailor gave shelter to the sailor and love began to blossom.

Staying within the port town, the sailor became a fisherman so that he may never be too far from his love. Each night he would return home to the tailor who waited for him at the docks. As time passed they married, exchanging vows to one another and placing a silver band upon the finger of the other. The union was ideal, a match that felt all too natural and at last their lives together truly began.

Their lives continued much the same, keeping a humble life free from want but the call of the sea still rang in the sailor's ears. On a day like any other a ship came to the town carrying adventurer and scholar alike. They told stories of fascinating new places and showed off trophies of their discoveries. They said there was new land across the sea and they aimed to find them. The sailor shared that fervor.

Upon explaining his intent to his beloved the sailor found she was not angry with him but instead encouraged him to go. The tailor had faith that her love would return to her and so on the day of the departure the sailor climbed aboard the ship, swearing he would come home. The tailor stood upon the dock as she watched the ship fade over the horizon and an ill wind blew at her back.

Weeks, months soon passed and the sailor found himself stepping onto new lands, discovering new things. With his fellows he gathered many trophies and sealed them within a chest along with letters to the tailor who patiently waited for him to return. But as the days dragged on she began to worry for him and she stood on the docks each day in hopes to see him upon the horizon.

Disaster struck the expedition and the sailor found the crew around him dwindling, claimed by sickness or the new lands. The ship turned about, setting course for familiar waters and for the first time the sailor began to doubt he would return.

In the port town the tailor took ill, her body growing frailer with each day that passed yet still she waited for her beloved to return. She stood by the shore and watched the horizon, waiting for him to come home to her, determined to see him again. On days she felt she could not make it to the shore she looked to the ring on her finger and found her strength.

Savage storms tore at the ship as if the seas itself wanted it to sink. The sailor ran about the deck, aiding his fellows as they battled the winds and the stinging spray. When his will would falter, when he felt there was no hope left he would look to the band on his finger and know she was waiting for him. He had to return no matter what.

The tailor's illness grew until she could no longer move, confined to her bed she looked out the window towards the ocean. Each day she prayed for her beloved to return, she prayed she could be with him one last time. Upon the sunrise of the next day she passed in her sleep, her ring clutched to her chest.

The sailor cursed the seas and winds, determined to return home. To return to his love who waited for him at the docks. But as the winds broke the masts and the seas flooded the ship the sailor knew he could not keep his vow. Retrieving his chest he emptied it of everything save the letters and sealed his ring inside with them. He held it tight as the ship sank and the waters claimed him

Days turned to weeks, weeks turned to months and months became years when a stranger came to the port town. He carried a small chest with him and asked the towns people for the tailor by name. They pointed him to a hill overlooking the sea upon which he found a lone grave, "I will always wait for you" etched upon the stone. The stranger opened the chest, pulling out a number of letters which he read aloud and when he was done he set the sailor's ring before the grave and carved a line of words beneath the others.

"I am home."