By the Sea..

    It had been quite some time now... A summer's day was about to fade its time out... The evening had always held an incredible pull for Reeve. He lived by the cabin on the extreme end of the beach. The cabin stood aloof from the nearby coastal village.. It was a good life, with its share of toil.. Each day was the same, in sync with the sun and the moon... He rose with the sun to get his boat polished an ready to ferry the odd bunch of tourists to the sea-fort which lay some distance into the sea. No other boatman agreed to ferry people to the fort.. For a reason spun by the village rumour mills... It was said to be haunted...



   
     'Of course!!', thought Reeve, the quintessential sceptic... He was rather glad for the rumour. He could charge a premium for the ride for the tourists seeking adventure... The good old demand-supply rule aided his income... As he anchored his boat by the harbour, the fort stood mighty even in its ruins... It was said, it was built by a Knight, for his ailing daughter. She was said to have loved the sea... Some tale about her falling in love with some local guy and it had to end in death... The right ingredients for a haunted story...'All but fantasy and some creative grandma tales', scoffed Reeve, as he heaved a sigh of relief, having anchored the boat... he patted the hull for good luck as he always did and smiled... The only thing Reeve was never cynical about was his boat... His only true love... He wished her adieu and made way for his cabin...
     The sun had set by now and the moon was already shimmering in its glory... The perfect circle of silver... Reeve though the cynic he was, never ferried once the Sun had said its goodbyes... Even if it was for the high paying brats aching for a 'night-out' by the fort citadel... He sat by his spot... His own crafted barbecue stand in the sand... He had hauled in a couple of good catches that morning... It was going to be a special night... 'But then that was always', thought Reeve. The crimson of the embers stood out stark in contrast with the dark sands... In the distance the waves went on with their game of peek-a-boo with the shore... Just as Reeve was about to call it a night and make his way back to the cabin... Something glinted off the waves... An outline...
     'Must be those hippies again!!', exclaimed Reeve.... he grabbed his multipurpose 'poker-cum-stick-staff' and made his way to the shore... The outline grew clearer against the bright moonlight... It was... It was the most beautiful face he had ever dared set his eyes upon... He cautiously edged closer and checked for a pulse... 'Phew!', there was a  faint throb... He lifted her gently and brought lay her beside his spot . He rubbed her feet to warm them up and gave her the coastguard-taught-manoeuvre... There it was.. The spluttering of water as she coughed up the sea-water in her lungs and tried sitting up... It was only when she caught Reeve gazing at her in an unabashed abandon, he realised his folly. Reeve quickly averted his eyes and quickly made to offer his coat... She smiled at him... A smile which brought images of the vast sea to him... The content feeling when he sailed on the waves in his beloved boat... A smile that melted the tough look he forever carried... Tugging right as his heart... he gathered his wits and offered her a piece fresh of the grill... 'What is your name..?', She stifled a giggle and answered..'Its Myrine!', Reeve couldn't quite understand the giggle but smiled at the sound of her name rolling of his lips...'Myrine... It is beautiful..!' She nodded, 'Thank you!.'
     'How did you end up there... Were you trying to kill yourself!!', grunted Reeve as he remembered what had just happened and  how had she landed here... Myrine simple twiddled with the piece in her hands and furrowed at the sands... Reeve tried again...'Were you trying to run away...?'. There was the giggle again...'Oh! I wish..' She turned away to gaze at the sea...'Isn't the moon pretty today!', Reeve taken aback by this sudden change of conversation could only mutter..'Yea it is... it is always beautiful, these full moons...!' As he looked up to stare at the silver ball shining down upon them... It didn't quite look as gorgeous as the girl beside him... 'This is some night!', thought Reeve... Myrine stifled a yawn,'Do you mind if you stick around a while, I like your company..', said Myrine..! 'Ohh Okay!...', Reeve poked at the embers now dying down with the wind.. The breeze that now grazed his bare arms and sent down a shiver...
     'Thank you, Reeve for never believing!',....'Reeve!!... How do you know that is my name', Reeve stepped back away from the girl...'Ohh that's the least of it... But Reeve, you are the only one who never believed.... It is my home!!... how can it be haunted!!... Why don't they let me be in peace', Reeve hurriedly backed up....'Who... Who... are you really Myrine....?'... 'Don't worry Reeve... It is time anyway', the sun would be up soon now... 'I should be getting back now... You will sleep now and not remember a thing... See you again when the moon is full again.... Bye Reeve...!'
     ......Reeve rubbed his eyes open as the sun was about to peek... His back ached... He must have fallen asleep by the beach.... again!!...  It was  a new day... He made his way to the boat... To give it a shine again.. He smiled as he took extra care to polish the hull... The name painted beautifully across... It just seemed perfect for some strange reason... he could never gauge why...Myrine...