you'd been fishing off the coast for years
California was a hellhole, but that only applied to the terrestrial part of the state
you barely registered that part
instead you lived for the sweet pacific breeze and the waves
your boat wasn't a yacht
a sail boat with just enough room below deck for a bed
if you could live out on the sea you would
reality had set in ages ago though
best you could do was a week or so out on the sea every once in a while
then you had work
software engineers were a dime a dozen out here but it paid well for now
the vacations were necessary for your mental health
spending your time out here
last night you'd set anchor out on the sea with how calm the waves were
weather was fantastic
the waves had rocked you to bed and your little cabin felt like home
next morning you came out and were confused and even a little alarmed
your cabin door had been defaced
out on the open ocean
with no one for miles around
there was half eaten fish off one side of the deck
someone had gotten into your freezer
out in the middle of sea
you went out here to avoid people but they clearly didn't get the memo
but who had been out here
that was an uncomfortable thought
you couldn't even see the shore from here
today you'd sail out from this spot
you knew you weren't going crazy from seeing those scratches on the wood door but you had no explanation
instead, you focus back on your vacation
not like you could do much about it out here and you only got so much free time