A story, just for you, Bosa...
The clouds draw over a clear, starlit night on the sea. Gunfire lights up the shadows that crossed the ship only moments ago, illuminating a battle that has been long running. And with a quiet roar, the losing ship goes down in a blaze of glory, slowly sinking into the gentle waves. James splutters as he is dragged down with the suction force of the drowning mast, trying to cut free from the rope bound around his ankle.
A haze begins to take over his vision, and he realizes with dazed clarity, 'Oh. I'm dying.' For the last time, he shuts his eyes to the world, memories of the past surging through his mind...
/James, what are you doing?/ A young girl, wearing a simple dress and a white ribbon in her dark, heavy hair, laughs as she dances towards him. With a laugh of his own, a younger-looking James sweeps her up into the air, watching with joy when she gives a shriek of shock and glee.
/Just waiting for you, my lovely Rose./ He responds gleefully, setting her back down and giving her a kiss on the forehead.
/I was thinking we could name her Savannah Grace,/ Rose said hesitantly, looking with trepidation towards her husband. He just gives a smile to her and places a hand on her swollen belly.
/That's a beautiful name, Rosie. But what if it's a boy?/ At the teasing tone in his voice, she pouts and smacks his shoulder with all the force of a leaf fluttering to the ground. And yet, she still answers: /Noah Kristopher./
/I love the names, really./ He kisses the hand that hit him. /I'm sure she will be as beautiful as her mother./
/I sincerely hope he is not as charming and flirtatious as his father,/ she responds dryly, a smile playing at the corners of her lips.
/We could just run away! The army would never find us, I promise!/ Rose says desparately, even as he finishes putting the last bit of clothing in the leatherbound suitcase. With a sigh, he turns a sad look to her. His wife, his son, his family.
/You know that would never work. But I promise Rosie, I'll be back. Don't even worry./
/I'll be waiting,/ she whispers in defeat, going to him and, with the arm that does not hold the baby, tangles a hand into his blonde hair and brings him down for a kiss full of longing and worry and passion. /Please come back.../
'Rosie,' James thinks dully, even as darkness sweeps over his consciousness and water fills his lungs, 'I'll be back. I'll be back in your dreams, every night, until you no longer want me there.' And with an internal sigh, he gives up the fight to struggle away.
Miles and months away, a young woman stands stoically in a church, dressed in black all over. Even her eyes, which were once a warm, vibrant brown, have dulled to a flat black. A young boy, no older than a year old, is asleep on the pew behind her, unaware of the grief that has fallen over his mother's life. With hesitant steps, Rose walks up the aisle, glad that the church is deserted except for herself and Noah. Eventually, she reaches the coffin. With shaking hands, she lays a bouquet of Marigolds atop the place where his body would have lain, if they had found a body at all.
"Good bye, James." She whispers, tears threatening at the back of her eyelids, but refusing to fall. "No matter whomever I may meet in the future, your heart was like a heart of gold to me. It will never be replaced." With a shuddering breath, she added, "I hope to see you in the next life." And then, with the strength and determination of a woman who wants to do things right, she returns to her child and picks him up in loving arms, vowing to give him the all the love she possesses in her body. All the love that James gave her.
END
Wow. Longest story I've ever written for here. I hope you enjoyed it, Bosa! Your songs always create such vivid images in my mind, I couldn't help this time but to write a story!
The sweeping arc of this song really drew me in and it's definitely one of your better ones. 10/10 and 5/5. Nice job!