I always knew this would be the cost of sailing, but I never imagined it would be so high.

She rocked back and forth, ready to collapse any moment now.

But we, her children, wouldn’t let her.

The storm raged against her, but we dared not let her go.

The clouds sought to strike her down with their might, but we dared not let her go.

The hard rain tried to stone her, pushing her to her limit, but we dared not let her go.