Blog Background Flash Fiction, Story 1

As a writing challenge I have decided to come up with flash fiction stories about my blog background image. It's an image I found online. I completely fell in love with it and bought the rights to use it commercially. It will most likely end up on the cover of my first historical romance.

Here we go! Flash fiction, story #1...

Sailing Away

The full moon hung low in the sky, illuminating the rippling waves in the wake of the ship. Unable to sleep, Darcy leaned his chin in his hands and stared out at the water. Had it really been less than a day since his elder brother had sold him into service aboard this vessel? How would he survive among such a tough crew? The most physical pursuit he had ever engaged in was climbing apple trees on his family's estate. He sighed. That was another lifetime, another boy. Now he would have to become someone new, someone harder. Glancing up at the masts, he pondered. "They are not so different from apple trees." For the first time since stepping aboard, Darcy smiled.