“Nobody stays after dark,” the thin ferryman muttered, keeping his gaze on the boat and water as he dropped her off. He refused to look at her or at the island hidden behind a crawling fog.
Matilda Garner could see the place through the man's eyes and smiled faintly. She'd been called ‘weirdo’ all through childhood and sometimes bullied for being different in a way none of her foster parents could explain. Their fear of what she might be led to changing homes many times. This ferryman was no different.
When she had received a letter marked urgent with no return address on her eighteenth birthday requesting her to visit the Greywake Manor on Garner Island, she knew that was her home. The only place that would tell or probably show her who she really was.
But the island appeared only at dusk. The ferryman was the only one amongst the others willing to take her. And he did it for free despite Matilda's insistence to take the generous sum she offered.
The mist parted ways, letting her through as she walked toward the manor. It was a big mansion with many stained-glass windows and doors that glowed with the moonlight. Dead roses and ivy crawled on the walls while ravens nested on the chimneys.
A creaking sound drew her gaze to the main door as it opened by itself. Instead Matilda walked past it and continued on the grounds, surveying the place.
There was a high cliff behind the mansion, waves hitting against the rocks as the roar of the sea called to her. She stood over the edge and looked down.
Gasping softly, her vision changed in an instant. Across the dark water, she could see impossible things. The world was shaped differently, changing every certainty she'd carried for twenty-five years. Ships sailed beneath the sea as giggling children skipped across the horizon. A cathedral rested upside down among the clouds as people solemnly filed into it.
The air shifted as a tall man with silver hair appeared beside her. His face was stoic and his skin wrinkly. He looked just like her but elderly. “Welcome home,” he said, his voice deep and gentle.
He glanced at her once as though the sight of her was too much to bear then turned his gaze toward the sea. “You inherited my gift, so I had to stay away—to protect you.”
Matilda nodded, her mouth suddenly dry.
“Do you feel it? Does the island call to you?” He asked, a smile tugged at his thin lips like he was reminiscing about happier days.
“Yes,” she whispered and quickly cleared her throat. “It does…it feels like home.”
“It's home, Matilda. Your home. You are the lady of the manor now.” And he turned and started to walk into the mist.
“Wait,” she called and he stopped without turning. “Will I see you again?”
“Only when you're lost. I'm a part of this island. I'll always be here.” And he vanished.
Matilda wrapped her arms around herself and rocked on her heels, humming under her breath. The sea sang along, its mournful song rising and falling with the waves.
I hope you enjoyed reading this short piece. It's inspired by the Freewrite #dailyprompt phrase "over the edge".
Thank you for visiting my blog.
Image created by AI using NightCafe Studio
