A Fuckin' Breath of Fresh Air

The engine rumbled to a start, emitting a gray fog of exhaust from the stern. Madelyn clung to the captain's chair for support as the boat gradually accelerated.

"Hold on," He shouted over the motor, peering back at her from the corner of his eye. The boat lurched forward and water ran from the front deck to the back of the boat, sloshing as it came to an abrupt stop at the rear. Motor oil caught the sunlight as it pooled together, metallic and toxic. Madelyn took shallow breaths until the wind picked up, blowing with it the pollutants choking the air. Madelyn stared at the back of his head. Don, he'd told her. She could tell his wind-blown hair would've been three shades lighter had it been clean. Blonde? Brunette? The skin above his shirt collar had seen years of sun. A deep golden tan warmed his neck. Madelyn found herself reaching out to touch him, and she withdrew her arm quickly. She turned her attention toward their location.

The pier was well behind the bubbling wake of the boat, and sea gulls floated through the air as little white blotches. He slowed the motor. When the boat came to a gentle rocking motion, he turned to her. She was staring off in the distance. The gulls.

"Why'd you want to come out here?" he blurted, trying to catch her attention.

"Oh, uh. I just needed to feel the wind. The city..." she trailed off,"can be exhausting," she breathed.

He bowed his head in an exaggerated acquiescence. "Thats the beauty of the ocean. Its so goddamned open. A fuckin' breath of fresh air is what it is."

The two sat in content silence for what seemed like a long time, swaying in the salty breeze. Finally, Don inhaled deeply, and turned to start up the motor. Madelyn closed her eyes as they crashed over the choppy waves, her hair whipping around her face.

Rolling up to a street corner, Madelyn decided to take the bus the remainder of the trip home. Waiting soundlessly under the bus stop sign, she enjoyed the cool, metal pole pressed against her flushed cheek. She hitched her bike to the front of the bus and heaved her wobbling legs up the bus stairs.

Inside, she sank into the plastic seat, letting exhaustion muffle the background noises.
from behind closed eyelids, she heard the ranting of a cranky old man. By the sound of his slurred words, he was drunk. The sun was high in the sky.