Shireen's concern

 Shireen watched from the shore as her grandfather, Elias, set sail once again, his weathered hands steady on the ropes. The old man had spent a lifetime on the sea, but at eighty, Shireen worried. Each time he ventured out alone, her heart clenched.


One evening, she confronted him. "Grandpa, why  you always sailing alone? What if something happens?"

Elias smiled, his deep-set eyes reflecting the waves. "Shireen, the sea is like life. You must meet it with an open heart. Fear will keep you on the shore, but trust will let you ride the wind."


Still, Shireen’s worry remained. One morning, after a storm, she saw his boat missing from its usual spot. Panic surged through her as she ran to a nearby lookout point. Relentlessly she searched until she spotted him, sitting quietly by the water, his boat anchored nearby. She hurried down to meet him.


"I stayed ashore today," he admitted, patting the wooden planks beside him. "Not because of fear, but because I wanted to share the sunrise with you."

Shireen sat beside him, watching the golden hues spread across the sky. She realized then that presence, not worry, was what truly mattered. Her heart softened, embracing the moment as it was, unpredictable, fleeting, and utterly beautiful.


From then on, she no longer feared his journeys. She cherished their moments together, understanding that an open heart sees not just danger, but also the beauty in letting life flow as it is meant to.


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