-----THREE YEARS PRIOR-----
"DAD!" Shouts a young boy, floating in a rough sea with his head barely above water. Another wave comes and it drowns his next call for his father, "DA-".
"DAD! WHERE ARE YOU?" He sobs as he resurfaces, barely able to tread water. A small red boat sinks slowly next to him, upside down with scrapes so deep they resemble claw marks. The sail, ripped into shreds, is lost to the sea; it isn't the only thing missing.
"DAD! HELP! DAD!"
Crimson leaks through the water, but the boy doesn't notice - not yet. He struggles to stay afloat, and is forced to abandon the search for his father in favour of saving his own life.
Gathering all the strength he has left, he begins to swim to shore, telling himself he'll meet his father there, refusing to believe he could be lost.
Waves attack him from seemingly all angles, and his limbs begin to ache from exhaustion, but he makes it to the beach.
He collapses on the sand, and passes out. Waves lap around his unconscious body. A voice can be heard, screaming for mercy far out at sea, but the boy cannot hear it and so cannot respond.
While fighting for his life, he had told himself that he'd be with his father once he got to the beach. So when he arouses, and he finds that he is completely and utterly alone, it hurts all the more.
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