Chapter 1 of 3
The Ferry Was Late
Ruth arrived at the harbour to find the board already changed: delayed until morning. She had a booking on the other side and a temper she was trying to improve. She bought chips and sat on the wall.
Tom sat down an arm's length away with his own chips and the same expression of resigned annoyance. They commented on the seagulls as if it were a formal introduction.
By midnight they had exchanged names, jobs, and the stories of why they were travelling. By two they were walking the empty promenade because sitting still had become impossible.