Cabin by The Sea

They say life by the sea was undeniably peaceful. There was nothing in the world that could truly compare to the feeling of spending each evening watching the sunset over the ocean. They say living a life with a new adventure everyday by the sea was a journey more akin to a thousand lifetimes instead of one. They say a million and one things about that life by the sea, but they neglect to tell you what you are supposed to do the night a rock comes knocking at your door.

My cabin was small, quaint, and picturesque. If Monet were to paint a cabin by the sea, it would be what my cabin looked like. It was the ideal size, not too big, and never too small. It housed everything I owned, and still room for more should I choose to fill it. I spent many moons fixing it up, and ensuring it was everything I wanted it to be. It was work unlike any I had completed, but because they said life by the sea was so amazing, I felt it would be worth the sweat. So, I pushed on, never one stopping my hammer from hitting that nail. Finally after a year of work, the wood was sturdy and in pristine condition. I was finally ready to live my life by the sea. Except, in my rush to enjoy this peaceful and serene life, I had lost track of time. The calendar year had slipped by me, and I neglected to notice the turning of pages that occurred. The warm and humid summer had quickly warped into a dry and miserable winter. The serene waters of heat were now angry waves of the bitter cold. They slammed against the rocks in their attempt to destroy the land in its path. I was too distracted. I lamented as I dreamed of my lost time.

As I threw piece of wood after piece of wood into the fire place, I rushed to create a blazing fire. Nothing I did seemed to matter. The cold air oozed through every pore in the wood, fighting its way inside. I tried everything in my power to keep it at bay, but like a demon hungry for a soul, it made its way into my cabin by the sea. 

I layered myself with blankets, hoping that the soft fabric would be able to keep the villainous cold away, but it too was not up to the job. It was not forged in the fires of the earth, and therefore didn’t hold the heat needed to keep the ice away. As I curled into a ball, waiting for Summer to arrive, I questioned why I had chosen to live this life by the sea. Everyone around me told me tales of their life by the sea. How their cabins had become their new home, and how adventure was merely steps outside their front door. They told of the people who passed by during the hot months, and the conversations they held. They told me countless stories that rivaled that of the Divine Comedy, only this had a happy ending. But similar to the Divine Comedy, I fell deeper into a state of despair. I knew that I could no longer stay warm, that I must make a change. 

My senses were dulled, and my stomach empty, but I knew that I could not give up on this night. I decided I must return to the city, until the warmer months arrived and at that point, I would return to my cabin by the sea, and truly enjoy it’s splendor. But, the rocks that waited outside my door would have no such thing. They knew that I was weakened pray, and tonight I would be their victim.

I hear many a tale about the rocks that lived by the sea. Monstrous creatures who lived on the destruction of cabins by the sea. I had never encountered them during my time rebuilding the cabin, but every traveler who passed by assured me they were alive and well in this region. A creature born from the pages of ancient myths, the rocks began knocking at my door. With each knock, I jerked. The vibrations ran through the wood, shaking every inch of earth that lie beneath it. As it reached me, I felt the vibrations rush through my freezing body, and into my bones. As they rattled, I feared what would happen next. I had done everything right. I prepared the fire, I lay the blankets, I lit the candles, and I locked the door. Yet the rocks were here, at my door, knocking. Knocking. Knocking. With each knock came a blood curdling cry from the wood as it buckled under the weight of the rock. It could not withstand the force, and as it crunched, and the air rushed through it, it shook. The entire cabin shook as the rocks rammed against it again, and again, and again. 

I moved my candles closer to the window so that the sea guard would sea my beacon and come rescue me from the monster of the deep. But as the cabin rocked, the candle threatened to fall over and die. I could not let that happen, so I threw off my blanket, rushed towards the window, and held onto the candle with dear life. I ensured that the air rushing through the crushed wood didn’t cause it to die, or fall from it’s stoop. I would make sure this candle would stay alive.

Like a beacon in the night, the sea guard lit their tower ablaze. As the fire began to rage, I knew that a rescue would be near. This did nothing to scare off the rocks, for they were ancient villains and there was nothing that scared them. But I knew the guard would soon arrive, and I would be saved. I held onto the candle, huddling close to it for warmth, and waited for my hero to arrive.

After what felt like a century, the rear window was swung open and a guard rushed in, swept me away, and pulled me towards their blazing fire. I watched as the cabin drifted away in the distance, the rocks steadily banging against it’s door. I knew not what would come of my cabin by the sea, but at least I knew I was safe, and soon to be warm.

As the sun rose over the beacon of the sea guard, my cabin came into view. The rocks had decided it was time to rest, but rest by the door they did. They refused to let my cabin escape their grasp, but I was assured victory would come soon.

“Fear not young one, for your cabin by the sea will soon be saved. The slayer of Rock Demons shall soon arrive, and drive them back to the deep where they belong.” The sea guards words rang through my ears and hope leapt up in my heart. My cabin by the sea would be saved, but fear trickled in through the hope. What would come of my cabin? Could i repair it? Did I wish to repair it? Or was it completely lost to the rocks? I knew not what my answer was, but I knew that it was time to begin my journey again. Only this time, I knew what dangers lie ahead of me, and nothing could scare me more than the night the rocks came knocking at the door, at my cabin by the sea.