Gavin stood, huddled into his furs against the cold and trying his best to not slip on the ice which coated the boards of the pier. Shivering did not help. He tried with all his strength to warm his own body, but to no avail. Still, though, he waited. From a distance, he almost blended in amongst the posts holding the dock in place, but he did occasionally shift his stance to favor one leg or the other as he fought fatigue as well as frostbite.

Chunks of ice floated nearby, clunking into the pillars that were sunk deep into the bed of the water and immovable. His eyes held fast to a distant point as he was waiting for something to appear. Long he stood there, immovable and transfixed as he waited for a ship that would never appear.

The cold seemed to not bother him though he shivered against it and bundled himself tightly. Strong winds eventually blew off his hood to reveal long locks of grey hair and a neatly trimmed beard. He moved for the first time as he replaced the fur-lined hood and resumed his solemn watch. Gavin’s mind turned back to years past and his younger life as he now reached near the end of it.

Crabbing was always a dangerous occupation, though none thought about the risks when they entered it in youth. Not to place blame, because who thinks they will die when they are young? He entered at the crisp age of fifteen along with Reuben and they had gotten onto the same ship.

For years, they served together and grew closer as they aged, each crab season bringing home the coin required to sustain themselves, and eventually their families until the start of the next. Some years were a little more lean than others as harvests were down, but they always looked forward to boarding that tall ship and putting out into the icy waters.

His last year as a crab man, Gavin saw no difference in the journey until the wreck. Nobody knew why the waters were more treacherous than past years, but certainly not the worst they had ever seen. The perpetual night dragged on for weeks until they were woken by the smashing of wood and the sailors were all thrown violently thrown from their hammocks. In the confusion, Reuben found Gavin and they made their way topside to wrestle the lifeboats from the deck.

I’m the dark, two crab ships had collided, sending splintered wood across the surface of the water. Sailors from both ships scrambled to rescue themselves and their comrades, moving with practiced precision to the longboats. The ships clashed again and sent the men sprawling to the deck again. Gavin pushed the longboat over the edge held it steady as men boarded.

A third collision rocked the pair of boats in the tumultuous ocean and Reuben was thrown from the side and into the darkness below. Signal cannons fired from both ships, drowning out any cries for help.

Gavin never saw his friend again.

Thirty-seven of the forty-six sailors perished that night: only the nine who made it onto that single longboat survived.

A tear traced a party down Gavin’s face, freezing before it reached his beard. A hand on his shoulder made him turn and meet the face of his son’s wife, Reuben’s daughter, as she took his hand to lead him back into the warmth.

“Poppy, tell us about sailing!” A small herd of children stampeded into the great room and gathered around his feet, each one bearing a strong resemblance to the best friend he’d ever had.

“It was a dangerous job, though we would never admit it…” he began.