The Final Voyage: A Tragic Tale of the Sea
Elias Mercer felt drawn to the ocean from the start. From a young age he used to watch ships enter and depart his fishing community while standing at the dock. The ocean spread forever and promised exciting possibilities to Elias. The sea expressed its desire to Elias through the ocean waves urging him to abandon his life's path. The land and everyday tasks held no attraction for him. The ocean become his answer to all the adventures he wanted to have in life.
At seventeen he abandoned his mother and left his past behind including the woman who promised to stay faithful. The Celeste ship carried neither luxury nor literary significance as a romantic vessel of legend. Behind its walls the vessel stored goods for its merchant owner rather than passengers seeking fortune. But to Elias, it was freedom.
During several years he explored numerous seas and became familiar with maritime activities. Through his sailing experience his skin changed to bronze from sun exposure and both palms hardened by rope handling. He endured major storms at sea and discovered amazing exotic places while becoming addicted to his exploration adventures. A restless feeling followed his every journey because he yearned for something that always stayed ahead of him.
This voyage altered all his life's directions.
Our objective was basic: transport supplies to an island and then return to the main land. The ocean proved more dangerous than anyone had expected. The sailors experienced a fast storm where dark clouds covered the heavens and the wind shrieked like an injured animal. Tall waves burst onto the ship admitting and raked through its sails to remove them from their supports. Elias guarded the wheel as strong waves flipped his vessel like a little boat.
Then, the mast snapped.
The ship wailed but its wooden frame broke apart because of storm intensity. Water dragged Elias down until he reached the ocean floor. When he awoke, he was alone.
Dislodged pieces of The Celeste floated ashore by the shores of an unknown island. After allowing himself to reach the shoreline Elias could barely move because his body took damage and his throat burned from consuming salt water. The weather returned to its normal state with the passing of the fierce storm. But his ship—his crew—were gone.
Days passed, then weeks. Without finding anything alive he examined the entire tropical island. Every evening he set up a fire to try and attract help so a different ship would sail by. Due to his experience with the ocean he found himself no longer valued by it.
To track the passing days Elias made marks on the trunk of a palm tree. More days passed without outcome which made him hopeful for less. He began talking to himself before shifting to address the ocean waves and the afterlife. His mother came back to him with her message about abandoning home for dreams too remote. He recollected the woman who stayed with him as her intended until another suitor came along. His thoughts return to his shipmates who once created joy.
He sensed a revelation during his lookout on the seashore. He dedicated every moment to move toward oceans because he hoped they would reveal his life's direction. He found himself alone because his devotion had turned away from what he once honored. The ocean did not love him. It had never loved him. Its size and fury did not equal its capacity to feel human emotions.
The realization broke him.
Elias stepped into the ocean during the night.
The ocean's movement carried him farther and beneath the water surface with his face submerged. The ocean's strength defeated him by allowing himself to descend. He ended his resistance toward life. Elias allowed the darkness to take him but the ocean water kept flowing without change forever.