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If I had been born 200 years ago
The starting lyrics of his father’s song filled Toby’s mind as he sat along the southern cliff looking over the rolling waves into the distance where the sea met the sky.
Well I would've been a sailor
A-sailing I would go
I'd sail around the capes and across the seven seas
And then back home
If I had been born
200 years ago
It had been years since he’d seen his father, and he misses him all the time. He only knew his father, after all his mother died when he was born. After that happened it was just the 2 of them, until was given to his uncle when he was 8. According to his uncle, his father had left him to serve ‘his lady’, whoever that was.
Toby could barely remember his father's face, he had glasses right? If he did, weren't they red or were they green? He briefly remembered wearing a red jacket too large for him, that must have been his dad's. His dad probably had the same dark wavy hair that he did. After all, whenever uncle ruffled his hair he seemed a bit sad for a brief second but it always went away fast.
As he gazed longingly at the water, more song lines brought themselves to his thoughts.
And I would know the waters
And the waters would know me
And I would cut across the waves
And be as happy as can be
I'd be landless, I'd be loveless
I'd be flight and fancy free
And I would know the waters
And the waters would know me
Toby knew for sure he got his love of the water and the ocean from his father, he remembers playing on the decks of his father's ship before he left with it. He remembers exploring the tide pools with him, holding on to his father's strong hands so he wouldn't fall in. He remembers the lazy days of picnics on the beach and the panic to pack up before the high tide came rushing in.
It had been 10 years since he had seen his dad. Yes, he loved his cousins and his aunt and uncle but a piece was still missing in his heart, a piece that was taken away from him by the ocean.
When I think about the time
And place where I was born
Oh, I wonder if the hands of fate
Had slipped and placed me wrong
Because there are ships I could have sailed
And sailor's boots I could have worn
When I think about the time
And place where I was born
As the sun began to set Toby still remained staring at the high tide coming in and thinking about how he wished his father was with him, after all in a few weeks it was his 18th birthday. One more birthday without him. Would his father have brought him on his ship if he was just a little bit older when he left? When he was 8 he already knew a lot about sailing. Well, as much as an 8-year-old could. He’d gotten over his seasickness then. Did he still have the knowledge of sailing now? He had never sailed without his dad's hands on his shoulders guiding him. Toby didn't know if he could set foot on a ship again. Would he ever feel the push of the wind on his back pushing the sails forward into the glittering open sea?
The ocean is still out there
Magnificent and wide
She's got open arms to hold me
And endless space to hide
And the only things that hold me back
Are the things I hold inside
The ocean is still out there
Magnificent and wide
Across the ocean, a man with dark curly hair sat on a sandy beach staring at the north star that gleamed brightly into the sky. As he sat on the beach with the wind blowing around him he started humming the song he had written for his son when he was a baby. He remembered fondly the times he had with Toby before he was dragged away from his family to assist his Lady. He didn't regret saving and then serving his Lady, after all he did what he was best at exploring the oceans far and wide for people to help. People he could bring peace and balance to. He made amazing friends along the way, but he always felt homesick. He never meant to be away this long, but his ship was badly broken when he sailed through The Isles. He was stuck away from his home. Away from his Toby.
He was almost there, so close to the goal he had been working on for years. To sail with his son again. He was almost ready to leave, His ship only had a few small repairs left. Hopefully, he could be back for Toby's 18th birthday.