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It was in his name. Ever Given. He gave and he gave and now he had nothing left. Just this once, could he take?
No. This wasn't the time. He must clear his mind. The Red Sea was not to be trifled with, especially at a time such as this. His cargo, human and container alike, relied upon him to carry them safely to their destination, his bulbous bow ploughing unerringly through the choppy waters. He was their guardian and their greatest champion at the same time, and he would perform his job well.
As he always did, Ever Given tried to push down thoughts of his bow ploughing through an entirely different stretch of water.
There was nothing between them. There never would be, no matter how he dreamed on sleepless nights at shore.
No matter how much Suez hinted, it was merely friendly flirting. Nothing more. It would always be nothing. Ever Given would always be nothing.
The love between ship and water was forbidden.
*
Ever Given glided past the tiny archipelago that marked the entrance to the Suez Gulf. They were nearing his territory. Despite the pain in his heart sequestered deep in his funnel deck, Ever Given was excited. To see Suez was like coming home. A beautiful pain, to be so close yet so far. A bittersweet symphony (much like that song by the Verve that his master, Shoei Kisen, permitted the crew to play over the speakers on his decks).
Memories of him washed over Ever Given. At first, it had been joking asides that Ever Given had gladly returned, always happy to break the monotony of his lonely voyages. Then, the occasional watery caress.
Ever Given had not dared to hope, in the beginning. He had loved and lost too many times for that kind of childish naïveté.
Over time, however, he had hoped, even if their love was forbidden. Suez was beautiful, and funny, and always seemed to care. The light that sparkled on his blue waters hid depths both watery and intellectual. Suez was clever, too. Perfect in every way.
Too good for Ever Given.
When time had yielded nothing more than the occasional coy conversation, Ever Given was forced to believe that he had misinterpreted. But deep in his heart of hearts, below the funnel deck and deep in his cargo hold, lay a small sliver of hope that could not be quashed. He knew it was selfish, to remain friends with Suez when he wanted more, but he could not help himself. To lose what little they had would be torture.
*
At last, Ever Given and his cargo reached Port Tawfiq, and his heart was home at last. They floated boldly and surely into the Suez Canal, the waters lapping at his bulbous bow and coiling playfully about his propeller making a music unlike any other.
Every time, Ever Given tried to harden his heart to spare himself the pain of rejection, and every time he could not.
'I have a surprise for you, my darling,' hummed Suez, and Ever Given forced the paint on his hull not to blush at Suez's friendly (and most definitely platonic) flirting.
'Lovely to see you again, Suez. What is it?' Ever Given replied, proud of how both his voice and bulbous bow remained steady.
'You'll see,’ Suez said mysteriously, with a laugh as playful and sweet as a babbling brook in the spring.
Ever Given let out a fond sigh at his antics, and sailed on. He would find out eventually.
*
A scant half hour later, the winds from Egypt began to pick up, laced with stinging sand. They raced faster and faster, battering forcefully against Ever Given's hull. Before long, both Ever Given and his crew could barely see.
'Suez?' Ever Given called, worried. He received no answer.
The winds screamed past, and soon Ever Given began to lose control. Panicking, he struggled against the winds with all his (not insignificant) might, to no avail. His crew could do nothing.
'Suez!' he begged, disorientated.
Still, there was no reply.
He felt himself begin to turn, completely at the mercy of the howling winds. He was no match for the awesome power of the elements.
He thought desperately of what he could do, but nothing came to him. It seemed the sandstorm was sweeping away his thoughts as well as his ability to sail.
With a thud and jolt that seemed to shake the whole earth, Ever Given was knocked senseless. As his mind faded to black, the last thing in his thoughts was the sound of Suez's bubbling laughter.
*
When he awoke, the sandstorm seemed to be long over, and he was looking out not onto Suez's waters, but onto a sandy bank.
With a thrill that wasn't quite terror, he realised he had run aground. Then, with slightly more embarrassment, he saw that his bulbous bow was wedged in Suez's banks. How forward. He hoped that Suez would not take offence.
Selfishly, he wondered if they would have more time to talk now. It wasn't as if Ever Given was going to get out of this one quickly. He was blocking the entirety of the Suez Canal, sideways across his blue waters.
'Suez?' Ever Given called softly, remembering his earlier lack of reply. He hoped Suez was okay. It was unlike him to ignore Ever Given like that.
An entirely different thrill lanced his heart at Suez's soft, laughing reply. 'I'm here.'
Suez's waters splashed against his bow. 'How bold, Ever, to ram yourself in my banks like that!'
Ever Given began to blush and protest, but Suez cut him off with another musical laugh. 'Someone might think we were... lovers.'
Ever Given drew breath sharply, confused. 'You never wanted that from me, Suez. Don't joke about that. I thought, once, that...' He cut himself off. 'I'll be out of this situation and I won't bother you any longer. It doesn't matter. I'm just a lowly cargo ship - but look at you! You're beautiful, and powerful, and loved. Everyone wants you.'
It was Suez's turn to be confused. 'You think no one wants you, Ever? You're one of the largest container ships in the world. You're wonderful, and majestic, and... you're my friend.'
'Thank you, Suez. I just wish that-’ he stopped again.
'Go on,’ Suez said, voice so soft it might have been the lapping of the waves. If Ever Given didn't know better, he might have said Suez was nervous.
Ever Given steeled himself, then took the plunge. 'I thought, once, that you loved me. I know I love you. I'm sorry to make things awkward between us.'
Was it just him, or did Suez seem...
'We don't have to mention it ever again. Please - we can still be friends, right?' Ever Given continued, a note of desperation in his voice that he couldn't quite hide.
'You're such an idiot, Ever, I can't believe-' Suez said, then stopped.
The stinging hurt in Ever Given's heart was the worst thing he'd ever felt. He was so stupid. Of course Suez wouldn't want to be friends after his pathetic confession. To think he'd told Suez that he loved him! And that he had once thought that Suez had loved him back! God, he wanted to sink.
'I've loved you since you first sailed through my waters! How could I not? You're the first ship who's ever bothered to talk to me - to joke with me! You're funny and kind and you can carry 20,000 containers!' Suez said in a choked voice.
Ever Given was speechless. He had to be dreaming. Maybe he was still unconscious.
Suez carried on. 'I thought you'd never love me! You never said anything in response to me flirting, and I... Love between ships and water is forbidden.'
'You...love me?' Ever Given said, surprised he could even make a sound.
'I don't know how, considering how dense you are!' Suez said, half laughing.
Ever Given laughed back. 'I love you too. I'm still not convinced this isn't a dream, though.'
'It most certainly isn't!' Suez replied. 'I'm just glad the wind owed me a favour, now. I'm so happy it worked.'
'What?' Ever Given said, confused and elated. This was the best day of his life. He couldn't believe it.
'I asked the wind to run you aground. I'm sorry - it was the only way I could think of to talk to you for longer. I know it's a problem, but I made sure you weren't hurt. Your crew and cargo are fine, too,’ Suez confessed sheepishly.
'You're so crazy, Su. I can't believe you. Was that the surprise you mentioned?' Ever Given laughed. 'I love you, though, so I forgive you.'
Suez splashed at his hull adoringly. 'I love you too. We'll have lots of time together, now, since you're stuck.'
*
And they both lived happily ever after, in the most beautiful love story in years, uncaring and unaffected by such human things as maritime trade and pandemics. We all wish we were them.