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This is a work of fiction and fantasy. All characters are over the age of 18. Any resemblance to any real persons or situations is purely coincidental.
This is my first story and any critiques or constructive criticism is welcome. I did my best to edit for clarity and typos. Hope you enjoy!
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After months of preparation, it looked like I was finally ready to shove off. I had been planning this trip for several years, especially after selling some proprietary security software I had developed just after college.
At 28 years old, I had made enough in the sale to live comfortably for quite some time. I wouldn't say that I am rich or anything, just comfortable. I had graduated with a degree in software engineering, specializing in computer security. Along with a couple of partners, I had several patents which had been sold to a much larger security firm for....a decent sum. Along with a nice house and piece of land and all the trimmings, one thing I had decided to do with my new found success was to take a solo sailing trip around the world, spending a year or two circumnavigating and seeing the world.
Being unmarried, childless, and untethered, I felt like this would be the perfect time to put some miles on my soul before I move on to the next big thing.
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I grew up in a family who was very much into the sailing scene. My father, William Sr., had retired from the U.S. Navy and devoted much of his time post-retirement sailing up and down the east coast with my mom. My sister, Kate, and I grew up on and around sailboats since we were barely able to walk. I wouldn't consider myself an expert, but I was competent thanks to my dad. My sister was also pretty comfortable on the water, but had much less of an interest than I did.
Our mother passed away in our teens, I was 14 and just starting high school, while Kate was just 12 years old. Mom had her struggling with cancer for several years, and we thought she was in the clear, but it returned with a vengeance and took her from us in the span of 8 months. While obviously devastating, dad did his best by us. Kate and I, while never particularly close previously, started growing much closer in mom's absence.
Unfortunately, tragedy struck again as I graduated high school. While on his way back from dinner with a friend one night, dad lost control of his car on the highway and struck a tree directly on the drivers side, killing him instantly. Kate and I were orphaned at only 16 and 18 years old, respectively. This second tragic situation pushed us even closer together. We clung to each other, keeping each other grounded and motivated to push forward. Thankfully, our paternal grandparents were able to take us in, even though their house in Charleston, South Carolina was much too small for a sudden family of four. Kate and I ended up sharing a bedroom and attached bathroom, although with me attending university I was often barely there, devoting myself to my studies, so it worked out. We were close enough that even in this hardship of forced cohabitation, we rarely got in each other's way or got too annoyed with each other, because all we had was each other. Words can't express how deeply I love my little sister, and even now in our twenties, I still have a great deal of protectiveness about her.
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At 26 years old, Kate had grown into a beautiful woman, and was successful in her own right despite the difficulties that befell us. While I consider myself a pretty smart guy, Kate was definitely the brainy one between us, and much more creative. She graduated a year early with a degree in creative writing from the same university, and hit the ground running after submitting some work to a major publisher. In only a few short years she had already released several novels of young adult fiction, as well as writing various columns and essays for magazines and journals. She had done quite well for herself so far, professionally. Personally though, she had a little more difficulty finding good relationships, with the few that she had only lasting a short time each, seemingly preferring to be single and to herself.
I always found it surprising that she spent most of her time single, because of how attractive and beautiful she is, both physically and intellectually. Kate had certainly taken after our mother, standing about 5'7" with dark brown wavy hair and bright green eyes, which we both inherited.
Just like our mom, Kate is quite shapely. When looking at her, it is impossible not to notice her impressive chest and perfectly rounded behind. While not a physically active person, she worked out just enough to keep herself somewhat toned, with a somewhat soft but flat stomach, and only a hint of pleasantly plump love-handles. All of these features, however, were often covered by baggier or loose fitting clothing, as she tended to dress fairly modestly.
In our time living in close quarters while we both attended college after we both turned 18, I'd be lying to say that I didn't snoop her bras when she would leave them laying around when my young horny male brain would get the best of me, noting her size as being a 34F. I'm not proud to admit that I often found myself using her bras and panties....to pleasure myself. I swear it only happened a few times.... The handful of times that I glimpsed her in her bra and panties, and maybe even a couple of peeks at her showering in our shared bathroom fueled my young man's fantasies for years....and even to this day. If she were anyone else, I would have to have her.
But despite my physical attraction and taboo lust for her, she is still my sister, whom I love dearly, and will always be her biggest protector. To this day, neither of us could bear to live to far away from each other, with both of us still residing less than an hour away for one another in the Charleston area. We meet for lunches, or dinners, or even sleep over at each other's houses on a weekly basis. Our text message chains are frequent enough that friend often joke we are almost like a couple with how much we talk, which I suppose is true.
With all of this in mind, my impending sailing trip had been a point of contention for some time now. Kate had become more and more desperate for us to spend more time together, especially in recent months, and with my departure only a week away, she has been at my house almost every day, helping me prepare, but also just to spend time together.
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"Why does it have to be so long, Lee? You could finish this thing in just a few months if you really wanted!!" Kate said, with both ire and desperation dripping off her words. While most of my family called me William, Kate had always taken to calling me 'Liam' or just 'Lee.'
"Katie, it's about seeing all that I can, and the experience of it, not trying to break any records for speed or anything. I'll be back before you know it," I responded.
"I know...I know, but how am I going to make it without you around?" Kate retorted with an almost puppy dog look in her eyes.
"You are a strong independent woman, you'll be fine!"
Kate sighed, "Yea, and I'm that way because I always have my brother there for me..." she trailed off, returning to helping pack my food and other perishables.