Side(H)arm

  And then Molly walked up the steps. As soon as she took the last step, she saw her father. He was the only one there. He was leaning over the railing, watching the waves roll to shore. Some grey had crept into his hair, he had some crow’s feet around his eyes, but other than that he hadn’t changed all that much. He was still in great shape and looked a hell of a lot better than most forty-five-year-old men.

  Jordan didn’t hear Molly’s heels echoing off the wooden boards as she walked toward him. He was focused on the waves down below. She had almost reached him when he sensed her presence and turned to greet her. In his hands, he was holding an old wooden box. Jordan smiled and asked, “You sure you’re alright, honey?”

  “Yes, Dad. I really am.”

  Jordan carefully handed her the box and said, “Okay then. How about we do this together?”

  “I’d like that. I’d like that a whole lot.”

  Jordan put his arm around Molly, and they started the long walk to the end of the pier. When they got there, Molly placed the box down on one of the long wooden benches. Then she opened it, reached inside, and untwisted the plastic-coated metal tie at the top that sealed in the contents of the clear plastic bag sitting inside. She took the bag out and carefully carried it to the side of the pier, holding it out over the railing. Jordan and Molly both bowed their head in silent prayer. When they finished, Molly released Raymond’s ashes into the gentle breeze to be taken down to the ocean, patiently waiting below.

  As they turned to leave, Molly glanced up and saw a lonely sea gull hovering over the pier. She watched it for a moment, and then suddenly, another one flew out of the haze hanging over the ocean. She continued to watch as the birds flew together, seemed to touch beaks, and then disappear together, back into the haze. Molly shook her head and smiled.

  No, it can’t be. Can it?

  THE END.

  About the Author

  James E. Abel calls three areas home:

  New England: where he spent his “wonder years” and attended Norwood High School

  Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: where he met his loving wife, Barbara, attended Lehigh University, raised three children, and pursued a career as a finance executive

  The Low Country: from Georgia through South Carolina, where he and his family spend as much time as possible.

  The rich heritage and natural beauty of Savannah, Georgia, and neighboring Tybee Island led Mr. Abel to choose the area as the setting for Side(H)harm. His concerns over the opioid epidemic and the bitter political divisiveness afflicting this country provided Mr. Abel with his purpose in writing this novel. His belief in family, tolerance, and the healing power of art provided him with his inspiration.

  Side (H)arm is Mr. Abel’s first novel, and its genesis was a short film that was written by him and filmed on Tybee Island. His hope is that the novel will now serve as the basis for a feature-length film of the same name. He currently plans to direct all proceeds from the sale of this novel toward the making of the film, and he encourages anyone who enjoys the novel to share that fact with their friends on Facebook. Mr. Abel hopes to post progress toward the film on Twitter, so please feel free to follow him on Twitter @jameseabel.