The high tide rolled in, swallowing the beach until very little sand was visible.  Moving toward the cliffs, the pirate looked up over her head at her destination, the flat on Lookout Point.  She moved closer to the side of the cliff and began moving upward.  The pirate steadily climbed the face of the cliff in the same manner as she had descended.  Her soul ached with loneliness as silent tears welled up in her eyes but never fell.  She knew she had eased another soul out of its worldly life into one that she was destined to never join.  She bled with pain, gut wrenching, and heart aching pain that nothing in this life or any other would ease.  

She reached the crest of the cliff and pulled herself back up over its edge, taking time to readjust her outfit.  She looked down and noted her boots looked none the worse although water had covered as high as her thighs and poured into the tops that flared out below her knees.  Her tight black pants remained unwrinkled and dry, hugging her legs like a second skin.  She observed her shirt was pulled loose and she reached down, quickly stuffing the tail back into the waistband of her pants.  She checked her buttons but all remained tightly closed.  She reached for her belt and noted it was no longer hanging around her waist.  

Standing up and looking over the cliff down onto the beach, she saw the blade and scabbard glinting as it lay discarded next to the woman who no longer lived.  There was no way that the pirate could go back down near the body lying listlessly on the sand.  She watched as the waves once more began to move down away from the woman’s body.  She stepped back, remembering how moot it was to worry about her sword.  She knew just as the sun came up each day that a new sword would suddenly reappear around her waist. She reached down and picked up her looking glass that she had dropped to the grass earlier before descending the cliffs. 

Taking one last look at the beach, the pirate turned and holding herself rigidly upright, she walked back toward the lighthouse high on the uninhabited cliff.  As she entered the building, she climbed quickly up the circling stairs many feet above ground until she reached the widows peak at the top of the towering building.  She could see long distances from this room and used it on many occasions on her timeless watch of the seas. 

She sighed deeply as she lifted the scope to her eye and glazed out once more upon the endless horizon riding low over the turbulent seas.  Swinging the glass left to right, the pirate saw nothing that broke the line between air and water.  It all lay deadly vacant with only the waves making changes before her eyes.  Her breath hitched in her throat and she swallowed the lump that rose threatening to choke her.  Her body ached with the constant state of anxiety it held as she watched for her love to return from the sea.  She knew in her head she was gone forever but her heart refused to accept the pain and devastation, which made her soul dark and lost.   

The pirate leaned her forehead against the cold smooth pane of glass in front of her.  She could see the shadowed reflection of her dark brooding eyes looking back at her.  There was nothing behind the gaze but sorrow and sadness glaring outward, lost and lonely cast adrift in a cold, daunting world. She would have cried right then but centuries had passed and there were no more tears to cry, not today anyway. Her thoughts shifted back in time conjuring memories from events long past. 

It was the beginning of a bright sunny summer day as the pirate led her ship back toward the mainland.  She was excited that finally after many weeks at sea she would be holding her beloved Angel in her arms tonight in their own bed.  She had missed her love while she sailed the seas looking for plunder and prizes to bring home to her.  The pirate was excited because this time, she was bringing her love back the perfect ring to represent her eternal love for her.  She paced back and forth, as they drew closer to land.  She could see the lighthouse on Lookout Point and knew it would be only a matter of time before they rounded the point and entered safe harbor. 

As she watched the cliffs below the lighthouse, she could see the tide was out and the white sand spread for miles along the coastline.  Looking at the shoreline, she realized that if she took one of the dingy, she could row to shore, climb the cliffs and walk home before the ship ever made it to port.  

The pirate recalled how she yelled to her first mate to drop the dingy lines as she scaled over the netting and headed down to join the dingy on the water.  Yelling back up, she instructed the first mate to steer the ship home and she’d meet him and the crew later that afternoon after they tied up. 

“Aye, aye,” the first mate called down as he watched her lift the oars and with her powerful arms begin rowing toward shore.  She continued stroking strongly and steadily as the dingy moved closer to shore.  The excitement within her chest grew as she thought of her lovely lady and the surprise she would see on her face when she walked through the door. 

The pirate felt sand scrape against the bottom of the small craft, as she pulled it up on shore.  She jumped out and tugged the small boat above the tide line until she could return to reclaim it.  Running over to the foot of the cliffs, she began the climb up the rickety wooden walkway that some long forgotten fisherman had built.  It looked as if it would come tumbling down at any time.  It was rarely used due to its worsening condition, but the pirate didn’t care as she hurried to the top, keeping only the thoughts of hugging and kissing her beloved in her mind. 

Her black knee high boots were damp and heavy from wading in the ocean when she had pulled the boat higher.  Her black pants were damp and coated with sand but she didn’t care.  Her white shirt was all that remained clean except for her sword and scabbard.  It hung from her waist and slapped against her leg with each step.  She felt naked without it being a part of her dress.   

Her smile broadened as she reached the top of the point and looked around.  She could see for miles from this spot.  She saw her ship moving slowly around the point, her dingy on the sand and the emptiness of the vast ocean before her.  She stood for a moment as her legs became accustomed to the stillness of the land beneath her feet.  She could still feel the rolling of the ship and knew it would be some time before she would walk without listing forward as she did on board her ship.  Turning back toward land, she picked up her pace and began trotting toward town.   

Her long strides ate the ground beneath her as the village came into sight.  She could see her home only minutes away from her reach.  She looked with longing hoping to see her love outside but the house was quiet.  Running closer she jumped over the fence without stopping.  Running up to the house, she looked into the back room through the open window looking to see if she could see her sweetheart.  The vision stopped her in her tracts. 

She watched as her lover stood in the center of the room, wearing an ordinary housedress.  It did not distract from her beauty but instead made the contract that much more apparent.  Her long honey gold hair was hanging loose as she ran her fingers through it.  It looked as if she had just released it from the normal tight bun she used to keep it under control.  The bodice of her dress was unfastened and white lace was peeping through the front.  The smooth roundness of the tops of her pearly white breasts were peeping over the lace.  The pirate watched with increasing desire as her lover slowly circled her lips with the tip of her tongue almost to entice her to join her even though she didn’t know she was being watched.   

As the pirate’s senses heightened and her own body responded to the siren call, she saw another movement from the corner of her eye.  Turning her head slightly she could see her lover’s personal handmaiden moving closer.  As she watched, the handmaiden stepped nearer until she stood directly in front of her lover.  She saw the handmaiden reach out and lightly run the back of her fingers against the tops of her lover’s breasts.  Before she could move or make a sound, the two women leaned toward one another and enveloped their bodies in a hot, passionate kiss.  It seemed to go on forever with their hands groping against one another, pulling their bodies tight together. 

The pirate felt her anger and hurt reach insurmountable heights.  She took the few steps to the door.  Instead of reaching out and opening it, she pulled her sword out of its scabbard even as she lifted her foot and kicked the door inward, slamming it back against the wall.  With a wild rush, she thundered into the room, a high, wild yell pouring out of her lungs as her hurt and betrayal seethed upward from deep within her soul.  She reached the pair and grabbing the handmaiden by the back of the hair she pulled them apart with brute force.  Still holding the maiden by the hair, she forced her down onto her knees and held her sword to her throat.   

“Why?  Why have you done this to our love?” she demanded as her lover looked on in fright and panic.  “I love you.  You told me you loved me with all your heart and soul.  How could you do this?” 

The maiden tried to rise.  Looking down, the pirate saw the redness of her lips and the rapid movement of her chest still caught up with the passion that had sprung up between her and the pirate’s lover.   

“You take what is mine, I take what is yours.”  In a movement so rapid, the pirate swiped her sword across the maiden’s neck and ended her life before her next breath was taken.   

“NOOOOOO!!  GOD, NOOOOOO!!!” Her lover cried out as she backed away from the scene before her eyes.  She watched as the pirate released the maiden.  The maiden fell forward onto her face as blood pooled around her head.  She never moved. 

“I love you with all my heart and soul,” the pirate said as she stalked her lover backward around the room.  Reaching into her pocket, she drew out the ring that was the symbol of her unbound love.  She grabbed her lover’s hand and jammed the ring onto her finger.   

It was tight but she forced it on anyway even as she said, “This ring was a symbol of all my love for you.  Now, every time you look at it, it will be a symbol of your infidelity to me.  Get out of my sight before you end up like your maid.”   

She pushed her lover toward the door that hung lopsided against the wall. 

Her lover ran, faster than she had ever run before.  She knew the unbridled anger her pirate was capable of having and she knew her life was still in danger.  Even as she ran toward Lookout Point, she knew her pirate would soon be on her trail.  She neared the cliffs and had no place else to go.  With panic, she looked down on the beach and noted the dingy on shore.  The waves were beginning to brush against the back of it still dangling in the sea.   Rapidly she took the rickety path to the beach.  Her fear gave her strength as she pushed the dingy back into the ocean.  Quickly she climbed in and began rowing out away from shore, mindless of where she was headed, her only thought to get away before the pirate caught up with her. 

The pirate screamed her pain again as she looked around the now silent room.  She needed more to satisfy the deep-set pain that ate her heart away and left a cold hard stone in its place.  Where had her lover gone? They weren’t through with each other yet she decided as she wiped off her sword and slid it back into its casing.  Looking at the dead woman, she spat on her as she walked by her and out of the house.  She knew her lover had run toward the point.  She would find her there.  With determined steps, the pirate headed back along the path she had just used. 

Looking up into the sky, she noted that clouds were moving in and a storm was rolling across the ocean to add to the black mood of the day.  She continued with her long strides toward Lookout Point, knowing that is where she would catch up with her lover.  As she reached the Point, she looked around, not seeing her anywhere.  The pirate entered the lighthouse and climbed with a steady gait to the top.  No one was there either.  She walked to the window and looked out.  No one was on the point in any direction.  Looking out at the sea, she saw the black rain moving rapidly toward the shore.  The waves were beginning to roll harder with huge whitecaps, showing the increased turbulence of the water.  She was glad her ship would soon be tied tight to the dock because this storm would be devastating to any ship out on the seas.  Looking down at the sea closer to shore, her heart began to thud harder and her breath came out in a sharp swoosh as she saw her dingy moving out toward sea. 

Her lover was pulling hard at the oars drawing the dingy further out to sea, moving directly into the path of the storm.   

“NO!!!!!!!!!...GOD NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!” the pirate screamed as she pounded with her fists against the window panes.  The glass shattered and her hands began to bleed as she continued screaming and pounding.   

She turned and ran down the staircase, stumbling and grabbing the railing as she tripped in her speed to get to her lover.  She jumped the last 20 feet to the ground, running out of the building as fast as she could go.   

She ran to the cliffs and jumped onto the wooden platform leading downward to the sands.  Her eyes never left the dingy as she yelled until she had no voice left.  Tears streamed from her eyes, as she knew her behavior drove her lover deep into danger.  Her hurt was nothing compared to the love she felt for her partner.  She needed to reach her, to ask forgiveness and see if they could start over again.   

As she clambered downward, she saw the waves swelling larger and the dingy rocking harder on the ocean.  The waves crashed against the sides of the dingy sending spray high into the air.  Her lover was being carried further away with each thundering crash of the sea.  Even as she watched and prayed, one black rolling wave covered the dingy and pulled it below the water, taking all from her view.   

“GOD HELP ME….NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” the pirate cried out again as tears flowed from her eyes.  Then it happened.  She heard the loud cracking of wood, sounding like a gun blast beneath her feet as the stairway began to collapse and crumble high upon the cliff.  She held on but the path collapsed beneath her and she was plunged downward toward the ground.   Her body hit with such as force that most of the bones within her shattered and she felt the bleeding deep within her body.  Her mind began to cloud as her body began to shut down.  

“Oh god, my love, where are you?”  she whispered silently in her mind. 

With those words, her breathing stopped and she was carried into eternal darkness to await her destiny.   

It seemed like hours but it could have been days or years or even centuries when the pirate opened her eyes.  The blue sky shone overhead.  The water lapped against her legs as the high tide poured waves higher on the sandy beach.  She moved her limbs tentatively realizing there was no pain or tenderness to be had.  There was no bleeding, no cuts, and no bruises on her body. She pushed herself up slowly, reaching a hand out to hold onto the cliff wall as she regained her balance.  She blinked and shook her head, making sure she was awake. Her boots were unscarred, her black pants clean and tight and her white shirt unstained.  Her sword lay at her feet.  She reached down, picked it up and strapped it back onto its customary place against her hip. Taking a few minutes, she paused as she looked down the beach.   

She saw it, the dingy.  It lay on its side with the bottom facing her, pushed higher onto land by the high tides that rolled in even now.  The pirate trotted toward the dingy, hoping she would find her love lying inside.  She raced around the end and stopped as she looked down. 

It was empty.  Nothing lay near or around it.  There were no footprints in the sand.  NOTHING!   

The pirate dropped to her knees.  Her head crumpled into her hands as she cried even harder, knowing through her actions she had lost her lover.  She cried as her heart broke and bled, her soul withered and died with the guilt she knew was hers and hers alone. 

She saw a single shiny glint in the bottom of the boat.  Crawling on her knees, she reached dingy and picked up the shiny object.  She had bought the ring with such joy for her love.  It was the ring she gave in such hatred and anger to her love.  It was all that was left, love and hate, all held in one beautiful piece of jewelry.  She slipped it on her own finger.  As she did so, she noted how transparent her hand was.  She could see shadowy objects beneath her hand.  She was puzzled.    

Then she realized what had happened.  She too had died on the beach the fateful day her lover was lost beneath the sea.  She wondered why she was still in the same area but then she knew it was because her lover had never returned to shore.  It would be her job to watch and look for her love, to welcome her home whenever she returned.  Slowly she turned toward the cliffs.   

Looking for the path, she began to see that a long time must have passed, as there were no signs of a wooden pathway or where it even may once have stood.  She looked up to the top of Lookout Point and finally began the awkward climb up the face of the cliff, moving slowly but steadily to the top.  She stood on firm ground and looked around her.  The lighthouse still stood.  The knoll was covered in a velvety blanket of grass.  The old foot trail to town was gone, lost in the sea of green carpet.  She noted two headstones beside the lighthouse that had not been there before.  Walking closer, she stopped in front of them.  The engraved words took her breath away.  

She-pirate – gone at the prime of her life.  We know not where.  Only her sword and scabbard were found lying discarded in the sand.  Did she walk out to sea to find her lover?  Only God will know.  Some say her spirit walks the point looking for her lover.  If you see her, stay clear for death follows her footsteps. 

Angel – gone at the crest of her womanhood.  Lost at sea in the midst of one of the worst storms this coast has seen.  Did she drown?  Did she wash up on some forgotten shore?  Did a passing ship pick her up?  One will never know but we hope she died a peaceful death and not the dying agony of drowning. 

The pirate railed backward at the words she read before her eyes.  Then she knew, she was a ghost doomed to look for her love forever.   

She stands now in the tall lighthouse watching and waiting to find her love.  Until that time, her goal is to ease the death of those who the high tides come in to claim.  She will be there to send them easily into the passage of death, taking them from the hands of agony her lover may have suffered.   

Until the pirate finds her love, or has the answers to the disappearance of her love, she is destined to walk the Point forever, watching the ever-changing seas to be the first to find her.  Her soul continues to ache with loneliness as silent tears well up in her eyes but never fall.  She looked from her perch in the tower onto the beach where the young woman’s body still lay and she knew she had eased another soul out of its worldly life into one that she would never join.  She still bled with pain, gut wrenching, heart aching pain that nothing in this life or any other would ease.   

It is the she-pirate’s destiny, her death to remain forever suspended in limbo.

The End