This story is currently in the process of being worked on and is being temporarily published to receive feedback and critiques.
In Southampton during the day, it was quiet. Only a few horse-drawn carriages and pedestrians crossed the streets. The men walked with their chests out. They wore conical hats and doublets, and their mustaches had a precise trim. The women looked elegant in long, beautiful dresses that swept the streets. They wore hats decorated with bird feathers, ribbons, or flowers.
A man named William Nightingale, dressed in shabby clothes, rushed through the streets. Even though he was short of breath, he didn't care—even if his legs were about to give out—and kept running. He looked excited, like he had won a lottery prize. That wasn't what made him happy.
Arriving at the house, he opened the door with such force that it slammed against the wall. William looked at his wife and daughter, who expressed surprise when he arrived. His wife and daughter looked puzzled, wondering what prompted his unexpected arrival.
"We're leaving tonight," said William, trying to calm his heaving breaths.
"Is this what we talked about last night?" asked Elizabeth, his wife.
"Dad, Mom, what are you talking about? Leaving? Where?" Melody, a fifteen-year-old blind girl, looked confused.
William and Elizabeth shared a few glances. Their faces showed doubt. They believed honesty was important. So, they knew they couldn't protect their daughter from reality forever. They needed to talk about it, so they decided to be kind and understanding. But it was clear that conveying this information to their only daughter would not be an easy task.
"Could it be that we want to be like the Fisher and the Walker families who moved to Netherland?" The tips of Melody's outer eyebrows curled downwards. "I don't want to; I'm happy here."
William walked over to Melody and squatted down in front of her. He stroked his daughter's wavy blonde hair with a soft touch. "Things have been tense lately. The Puritans formed a separatist group to oppose King James I's policies, you know?"
"Dad, we're not taking any sides, are we?!" Melody asked in a gentle tone.
Elizabeth smiled, putting her arm around Melody. "Dear, even so, day by day your father and I have trouble finding work. Places that used to invite us to sing no longer do so. They're worried that the current situation will impact their business. We've searched for other jobs, but it's not much different."
"So, are we going to Netherland too?" asked Melody.
"No, dear, we're going to America. My friend who works at the Virginia Company is helping us to get a ride on the Rose Gold, which is leaving tonight." William stroked Melody's hair with a gentle touch once more. "Don't worry. I'm sure we'll have a better life there, and you'll make some wonderful new friends too. What do you think?"
Melody fell into a deep silence for a few seconds. With a hesistant nod, she unknowingly set the course for an unimaginable journey. She had no idea that this simple choice would lead her to a blue world. In this realm, everything sparkled like sapphires touched by the warm sun. It was a place that existed beyond the boundaries of anyone's dreams. But the water's ripples had not yet washed her away into the tides of fate, at least for now.
By midnight, the Nightingales were in the Rose Gold. The grand ship sailed gracefully across the vast Atlantic. The sea’s gentle whispers mixed together, creating a calming, hypnotic rhythm in the air. Its golden lights sparkled like stars on the waves. The night sky spread out endlessly, a dark blue blanket. Tiny stars glimmered softly, forming distant constellations. A hush settled over the deck, broken only by the rhythmic sound of waves lapping against the hull.