Oh, there are some lovely turns of phrase here: "sea-color lit with sorrow", "whispers that follow [..] like wave-song in seashells", etc. I also like the deft characterization lines ("not one to look back / on what might have been" & "She made her choice" / "she will abide by it") and the hints of what kind of relationship Deirdre & Captain Valor shared that they planned that contingency beforehand.

Thank you for sharing this.