Bitter Moon

William, a history professor with a penchant for solitude, found himself captivated on this luxurious cruise. Not by the endless buffets or the staged entertainment, but by a woman named Evelyn. Evelyn wasn’t the picture of typical cruise ship elegance. Her laughter, bright and infectious, often echoed from the pool deck where she pushed her husband, Arthur, a man confined to a wheelchair by a past accident, in his specially modified rig. Arthur, with his dry wit and encyclopedic knowledge, was undeniably interesting, but it was Evelyn’s vibrant spirit that snagged William’s attention. He’d steal glances at her as she expertly navigated the ship, her fiery red hair catching the sunlight, a stark contrast to her husband’s reserved demeanor. He’d catch snippets of their conversations – stories of their travels to remote corners of the world, her unyielding optimism in the face of Arthur’s limitations, and a shared passion for obscure historical trivia that resonated with William’s own academic pursuits. An unfamiliar flutter took root in his chest, an undeniable pull towards this woman who seemed to radiate life despite the ever-present shadow of her husband’s disability. It was an unexpected, unwanted infatuation blossoming amidst the gentle sway of the ship and the vast expanse of the open sea.