The U.S.S. Relation

We set sail not knowing where we're going. 

We walk along the boardwalk, the trip is as inevitable as the view of the Cruiser floating ahead of us. The hull of the ship is surprisingly clean... In fact the entire ship is. It looks great when you consider how many journey's it's had to have made.

We cross the plank that connects the ship to land, holding hands and smiling at each other.

We don't notice the sharks underneath us.

We enter a great hall and look around in awe. How someone fit such a world into a giant buoyant piece of metal baffles both of us. The lights create a dim aura of classiness, just bright enough for us to appreciate the silver lining against the wood grain interior design. A piano plays itself.

After taking a few steps in, we attempt to walk opposite directions to begin our adventure. Our hands slip apart.

I'm cold.

I turn to see you looking back at me, worried. We walk back to each other and laugh. We grab hands and I lead you in the direction you were headed.

I glance back in the direction I was headed before, but then focus in to see your smiling face. I smile too.

We go into a shop. The prices are ridiculous. There are trinkets laying on glass shelves, T-shirts, mugs, shot glasses. I look around for awhile but quickly lose interest in the items. I release your hand.

I step outside and listen to the piano melody. I sit at the seat and watch the keys depress and rise on their own. 

Keiko Matsui's "Across The Sun".

I think it's beautiful here.

You step out of the shop with a bag in your hand smiling guiltily. I smile back and shake my head with a chuckle.

You grab my hand and take me back the way we came. You lead me back to where we first entered, then paused at the spot where we first separated.

We stand in the same spot again. The view from here is fantastic. 

You release a sigh, and begin walking in the direction I wanted to go, and stretch your hand out to meet mine. I look back to the store, then at you. I take your hand and we go towards the elevators.

We look up. There we were, looking down. Our reflections in the elevator ceiling smiled at us. They began making faces at us. We made faces back.

We step off of the elevator and walk through the glass sliding doors to see a pool with restaurants surrounding it, with seating areas in front of them. The tables were set against floor to ceiling windows with a view of the entire ocean through them.

We had already set sail.

We ate together. We swam together. We watched movies together. We slept together.

I remember the night when the water rushed in. I awoke immediately and threw the blankets off of us. You were angry at me at first. Then you saw why.

We climbed the stairs to the deck. Looking for help, but it was no where to be found.

We were the only ones on that ship.

We looked for a lifeboat. There was one. I let go of your hand which I had grasped the entire time. I needed to let the boat down into the water. We get on.

One Life Jacket.

I gave it to you.

You took it.

Now we're floating on this tiny craft.

Keiko Matsui's "Light Above the Trees"

I could hear the piano from the depths.

I know it's still beautiful.

I look over to you.

You've disappeared.

I turn in a full circle. You're not there.

No one is there.

The Life Jacket is there.

I hug it and put it on.

The water turns red as fins break the surface of the water.

No.

NO.

They needed you more than I did.

Now they have what they need. What more...

Me.

I am all alone.

Only the sharks knew when it capsized.

Being teared apart by them now.

At least I'm closer to you.

Keiko Matsui "Top Secret".