That speaks of an intelligence and empathy that outstrips many humans I know. The creature understood that I would want my things, that they held value to me, and made an effort to retrieve them. These actions show a depth of understanding and compassion that leaves me staggering.
I rush to the railing, leaning over as far as I dare, my eyes scanning the water for any sign of the creature. But the harbor reveals nothing other than my reflection, wide-eyed and disheveled, staring back at me from the calm surface. My thoughts are a whirlwind of questions and wonder. Just how intelligent is this creature? And what else might it be capable of understanding?
The sudden ringing of my phone nearly startles me out of my skin. In my surprise, I fumble with it, almost dropping it into the water. Heather’s name flashes on the screen. Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I answer the call.
“Finally!” Heather’s voice bursts through the speaker. “You haven’t been answering my texts or calls. I was about to send out the cavalry!”
“I’m so sorry,” I say, glancing around again for any sign of my mysterious benefactor. Seeing nothing, I head inside to continue the conversation. “I accidentally left my phone in my bag and didn’t realize I’d forgotten it until this morning.”
It’s not technically a lie, I tell myself.
“Well, I’m glad you’re okay,” Heather says, the relief evident in her voice. “So, how’s the vacation going? Tell me about the town. What’s it like? Are you having fun exploring?”
For a moment, I’m tempted to tell her everything. If anyone would believe me about the kraken, it would be Heather. She’s always been open to the extraordinary and the unexplainable. But as I open my mouth to speak, I hesitate. The creature’s existence feels like a secret that isn’t mine to share. Whatever saved me probably values its privacy. It returned my belongings under the cover of night. And perhaps that’s wise. Humanity doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to dealing with unusual creatures. Our history is littered with examples of exploitation, fear, and destruction when faced with the unknown. By staying hidden, the kraken is protecting itself from the genuine threat that human curiosity and greed might pose. As much as I long to share this incredible secret, I realize that keeping silent might be the best way to repay the kindness it showed me.
“It’s been amazing,” I say instead – not a lie, I tell myself again. “You’d love it here! It’s this adorable little coastal town. It’s super quaint and has so much character. The locals are… unique. Everyone’s got their quirks, but they’re all so welcoming. I went to this wonderful clam bake the other night. I got to meet a bunch of interesting people. And the local shops are so cute – you’d love them. Oh, and Levi took me on a deep-sea fishing trip. I caught a huge fish, and Conall cooked it for me at the clam bake.”
“Conall?” Heather asks, curiosity and playful innuendo vying for dominance in her voice.
I chuckle, shaking my head at her tone. “He’s this great bear of a man who looks like he just walked out of the woods. You should have seen him and Levi arguing over who got to control the grill.”
“Typical men,” she says, making me giggle. I know she is rolling her eyes by the tone of her voice. “Did Conall click his grill tongs?”
“Of course he did!”
We both cackle like a bunch of hyenas.
“Sooooo,” Heather says, making the word three syllables long, “is this Conall hot?”
“He’s… attractive, yeah. But he could use a bit of grooming to reach his full potential.”
Heather hums thoughtfully over the line. “Is he as hot as your neighbor?”
“Heather!” I protest.
“Oh, come on! I need to know!”
I sigh in defeat. “Fine. No, he isn’t as hot as Levi. Happy now?”
“I will be once you make your move. I have some suggestions on how to catch his attention.”
“Oh, Ibetyou do.” I’m about to remind her about the strip poker incident from college when she cuts in.
“So, have you ridden anything besides waves since you got to Lublin Harbor?”
I huff at the innuendo, feeling my cheeks warm. “No, I have not.”
“Seriously… you should try out that hottie on the houseboat next door? What was his name again?”
“Levi. And, no, I haven’t,” I say firmly, though I can feel my face getting even warmer.
“Wait!” Heather screeches, making me pull my phone away from my ear with a grimace. “Isn’t Levi the name of your tour guide? When you said tour guide, I pictured some nerdy guy with glasses and dad jokes, not a hottie! You are so lucky. Why didn’t you tell me? You gotta get on that.”
“Yes, Levi is my tour guide. So, I’m not going to hook up with him.”
“He can be both, you know. A little holiday romance never hurt anyone.”
I hesitate, my mind briefly flashing to Levi’s kind eyes and gentle hands as he bandaged my cut. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea. If it goes badly, I’m stuck with him for the rest of the trip. Plus, I’m not in town for long.”
