Ocean's Tears

ce

nd the Pack house and my own room. The house can accommodate five families, but becau

sure do have

the opposite wing of the house s

at night, but I haven't seen any in the village. Not even the four

in the kitchen?" Samantha pulled me out of my

away." I stood up, wringing the dirt

hter, she's a little distant. Though she occasionally helps me with chores and teaches me things I didn't know, I can tell she's wary

d water into the gutter, then washed

pushing a cart full of fire l

orning,

ell, Khail.” I return

returned to the kitchen, where

k to wash my hands bef

wafts through the air. I sniff again, lo

, looking for something to do and try

w how to cl

e word causes my stomach to

ean the fish? I thoug

you can

hite cloth-covered box she was carrying earlier and l

p open. My saliva dribbled down the side of my mouth, and

re Samantha notices and wipes

tomach clenched, and I desperately wanted to push

bling wildly.” She laughed as she took the

hat way?” I was clutching my stomach. I followed her

r way to clean it.” She placed the fi

ove forward with the cleaning process. If the anal fins are not removed, they will

of the fish's body. She makes a small cut right behind the fins, then runs

rongly in the air. She put aside the newly cleaned

e motioned for me to

e the knife and hold the salm

as if brushing it towards the head.” She showed me how to scale it, which I d

insert the knife into the hole you made while removing the anal fin. Run the knife all the way up to t

e fish after it had been gutted. Begin by removing the tail, th

removing the remaining pin b

vaded the kitchen, m

rts into the bucket. My hands

t timer.” Samantha complimented my

l be able to manage.” I cro

need anything, ju

here she had left the vegetables she had bee

the sweet, juicy scent of salmon. As I finished

e. Complementing my simple tasks. I washed my hands but did not use soa

aught me well.” I gave the e

strong for my nose to bear. My stomach clenched and gnawed within me. A

al mom,” Saman

ible. The scent is driving me insane. My

ng through me, but it faded. I nodded subtly, I tried to compose myse

an hear her stomach grumbl

some fresh air.” I mumb

ide. I ran into someone. I couldn't tell who it was, and a familiar spark ignited, but I was too c

ed to a nearby tree. I take a

its place. My stomach rumbles graduall

s that

teeth I had felt earlier were still there, but they ha

sn't too strong since I had already washed it off

hat nobody's around except me. I gently r

fore, and it made me crave it. If Samantha hadn't

re you lickin

someone spoke from behind me. I turned ar

are you doing her

d and leaned agai

I thought something had

o the sky. Why did a fish's sm

take my hand and take it up to his

from his grasp and hid it behind my back as my f

ng Samantha with

stion. I averted my gaze as I thought of an alibi. It is

hat it tastes like.” His bro

fish tastes like?” H

t tha

to believe it. He pinched my face before patting my hair while shaking his hea

nd piqued my curiosity. Like I have

r the fis

d my memori