Morning Tides

Hector wiped the saltwater from his hands and squinted at the gray morning sky. The familiar smell of the sea clung to his weathered skin. His lean frame ached from hours of hauling nets, yet he moved with quiet patience, knowing that the tension at home would wait for him.

Inside their crumbling house, Teresa paced back and forth. Her thin lips pursed in frustration as she scolded Elias for dragging his feet. The boy, small and fragile, with steel-blue eyes that mirrored his father's, hugged himself and glanced nervously at the worn denim shorts that barely covered his scraped knees.

"Move faster!" Teresa snapped, shoving him toward the street. "We need food, not excuses."

Elias obeyed, clutching the faded blue T-shirt that hung loosely on his frail body. His old sneakers scraped against the uneven cobblestones as he stepped outside.

Hector watched from the doorway, his gravelly voice caught between authority and warmth. He silently vowed to endure the arguments and hardship for the sake of the boy who bore the weight of their poverty in every hesitant step.

The Morning Discovery

Elias stepped onto the uneven cobblestones, his worn sneakers scraping against the rough surface. The morning air carried the salty tang of the sea, mixing with the smell of fish from nearby stalls.

He rounded the first corner and froze. There, sitting neatly beside a crumbling doorway, was a small cloth bundle tied with string. His steel-blue eyes darted around the empty street. No one was watching.

Elias crept closer and carefully untied the bundle. Inside were three fresh rolls, still warm from the baker's oven, and a small jar of honey. His stomach growled loudly.

"Someone left this," he whispered to himself, looking up and down the street again.

A woman with short gray hair emerged from a nearby house, carrying a wooden bucket. She wore a simple brown dress and moved with quick, purposeful steps. When she spotted Elias clutching the bundle, she paused.

"Found something interesting, boy?" she asked, her dark eyes studying him carefully.

Elias clutched the food tighter. "It was just sitting here."

The woman smiled mysteriously and continued toward the well without another word, leaving Elias wondering who had left such a gift—and why.