Mitchell and Natasha awaken to a quiet dawn aboard Surly Mermaid. A light breeze ripples the bay. Natasha, still sore from the previous day, teases Mitchell about it while sipping tea in the cockpit. But their morning calm is broken when they spot a strange white float drifting nearby.
Curious, Mitchell investigates in the dinghy and discovers a sea turtle—its neck tangled in a crab pot rope. He makes a daring attempt to free it. The turtle thrashes. The rope’s tight. But with patience, a knife, and quick hands, Mitchell slices the cord. The turtle plunges back into the sea—free.
Natasha is amazed. But when she insists on telling people, Mitchell resists. This rescue is private. Sacred. It belongs to the water.
They argue. Jealousy surfaces. Natasha accuses him of protecting his wife’s image. Mitchell deflects with charm and vague promises of a future together. She relents, emotionally tangled, just like the turtle was.
That night, onlookers at the marina watch Mitchell return alone. George and Aenid, veteran yachties, speculate from their cockpit. Was the girl his wife? His mistress? No one really knows.
They debate gossip, morality, and the unspoken rules of dock life.
Mitchell’s secrets float quietly in the dark—barely visible, just like the stars above.
[excerpt from SEETHINGS 2 – available for download now!]
Ch11
Discover more from Michael Forman – Author of Dark Fiction & Drama
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