Original: Finding Silence
Finding Silence The boat moved smoothly through the swirling water. It was windy outside, Drewitt could see the crests of waves dissolving into spray, but inside it was warm and still. He rolled away from the window towards Ilene. She was awake and looking back at him, head pillowed on a pale arm and her tarnished pendant catching the light. “Hey there Snow White,” she said. “Snow… How long were you watching me?” “Not long,” she sat up. “There’s nothing else to do.” “You could have gotten up.” Drewitt sat up as well. “That would wake you up, and then you'd complain.” She combed back dark hair with one hand, pendant waving towards the window. “Besides, I would have missed the sunrise.” He looked out again. The sun was well above the horizon, though obscured behind the squalling clouds. — Breakfast was crisp dough and fruit that smelled of crushed vines, with a coat of powdered oats. Kaila was there before them, and she told Ilene there had been chocolate earlier. That made Drewitt ...