Just A Little Late // Carolina

The HMS Calypso was back in Bristol, in what seemed like years. Although it had only been a matter of months since the ship and its crew had last ported in England, for Derek it felt like years. His job was becoming less and less satisfying, though whether that was to do with the harsh conditions and not-so-admirable pay, or with the fact that his mind could only think of just one person the entire time he was at sea, was anyone's guess. Over the course of the last few voyages that he'd been on, Derek had lost contact with Carolina, something that upset him greatly. He'd written to her a few times, but then the letters stopped. He wasn't sure if he had crossed a line that he shouldn't have (he blushed when he thought back upon the confessions of love he'd written in some letters), or the letters had simply gotten lost (both his and hers), but it weighed on his mind every night as he lay down in his hammock to sleep, and by now he wanted nothing more than to get to shore.

He wanted to find her. The captain had allowed the crew three weeks of shore leave, a generous gift after everything that they'd been through this last voyage. A war was brewing and the HMS Calypso, while not fighting yet, had been helping their fleets with provisions and ammunition, along with recovery of the wounded and the dead. It hadn't been a pleasant voyage, especially because the recovery part had been a large aspect of it. All in all, he was glad to be away from the battle zone.

Stepping down from the gangplank, he looked around the bustling town. Nothing in Bristol ever changed. It was the same now as it had been all those years ago when he'd first started sailing with the navy. Swinging his bag over his shoulder, he began to weave in and out of the crowd, heading to The Spy-Glass Inn. It was renowned for its cuisine, even though some of its company was rather crude. First a good meal, and then he'd figure out how to find Carolina in this giant country after.

Finally!

She had gotten word of the HMS Calypso making port in Bristol. Perhaps normal people weren't as excited and yet also scared about a ship making port there. But Carolina was. All because of one person who was on that ship. Who was coming home now, hopefully. She'd been so worried these past few weeks, she'd written to him even when she got no letter back, just to know if he was okay. But lately no letters made it home to her.
She'd heard people say that due to the raging war out there, letters went missing. They either were piled up in the post office storages, because they didn't want to send anyone out, or the ship never made it to all the places their letters went. She'd heard of many women worried for their loved ones.  

But eventually, when she was out in Bristol with her father once, she went down to the port and talk to everyone who was willing to talk to her, hoping to hear something about the HMS Calypso. And she finally did about a week ago. She had begged her father to be allowed to stay in Bristol until the ship was due to arrive, anxious to know if her beloved friend Mr. Fletcher was alright. She'd always call him that around her father, just because it was 'proper' for a lady, since they weren't betrothed or married. She was 'only' in love with Derek. He was just so sweet, someone who was able to catch her attention, to make her life interesting and to feed her hunger of stories about adventures. And maybe she'd even be able to travel. When and if they were married of course, otherwise her father would never let them venture out on their own. Who knows what 'improper' things a man had in mind these days! Those were her father's thoughts, of course. Caro for once, trusted Derek.

So, finally she got her father to let her stay in Bristol. But she'd have to write to him every second day, so he knew that she was alright on her own. After all, she was a beautiful young woman, and one from a wealthy family, too. Terrible things could happen to her out there on her own.

Ever since that day, Carolina went down to the port every morning, waiting anxiously for HMS Calypso to arrive. However, this morning Caro was late. As she walked down to the docks of the port she could already see the big ship. So they already arrived! Hopefully she'd find her dear Derek before he left the ship! She just had to, she wanted to see him so badly. She had to know that he was alright. So, she started down the crowded path, hoping to spot her dearly beloved friend.