Writer's Dilemma

"Captain?" the first mate knocked on the door of the captain's chamber. "Are you awake?"

The light inside went out. She entered.

"Why are you still awake at this hour?" the captain lead her to the chair near his table. "Pray me tell, did you have another nightmare?"

"Please, captain," the first mate said. "I'm not a little girl anymore. I just.. I just wanted to talk to you."

"Really? But we've been talking the whole day, right?" the captain replied.

"I'm... I'm just worried."

"Don't be, the ship will last long after many more storms to pass, and this old captain of yours, will still with you all," the captain smile. The pale moonlight denied his lie. He was sad. "So, please, you get back on your room and take rest."

"You've been writing a lot lately," the first mate said.

"Is it wrong to write?"

"No, it's just that. I don't know. You've been hole up in here most of the nights for the past few months. It's not like you."

"At this point in my life, I guess, resting is good thing, right?"

"But you aren't resting, captain." the first mate sadly spoke. "The crew noticed that certain light were flicking on and off whenever they'd pass here by. Why is it? Perhaps are you not awake? And the supply for logs and inks are depleting and our cartographer and logger aren't much doing any work. Why is that, captain?"

The captain gave sigh and patted the head of the first mate.

"Nothing to worry about," the captain gently said. "I just like to write. Is it perhaps I'm no longer taking my evening walks, that you guys have grown worried?"

"That, and your eyes seems to be growing distant."

"Sign of lack of sleep," the captain gave a small laugh. "Alright, I'd write less for now on and get more sleep, if you're all happy with that?"

"Will you be fine with that, captain?"

"I don't know. Perhaps not."

"Why stop?"

"Because you're worried about me and I can't have my crew worrying for something senseless."

"Stop it, captain!" the first mate said. "You aren't senseless, you're the captain of this ship. Without you, where would we be?"

"In a distant horizon, I think," the captain smiled once more. This time he was honest.

"What do you mean, distant horizon?" the first mate asked.

"I'll give you that as a riddle," the captain said. "But for now, please let me be. I'll better care of myself but please, just for now, let me continue what I am doing. I'll take my evening walks again soon. So please, don't worry about me. I'll show you a little song I made in the morning if that would clear your mind."

The first mate smiled and bid the captain goodnight. A slight burden have been lifted from her chest and a promise of will clear all her worries in the day to come. All the while forgetting what the captain meant about the 'distant horizon.'

Soon after the first mate have gone back to her chamber and have perhaps slept a peaceful dream. A certain light lit in the captain chambers. He was still awake.