The Lost Sheep

They told him he nearly drowned - which was true, of course, how else could they describe the moment when Alfred disregarded all captain’s warnings and fell head-first overboard, only to be fished out a few hours later with lungs full of Nagasaki bay and barely breathing.

Yet Alfred swears there was a kingdom right under the water surface, castle shining in mother-of-pearl glory and a prince commanding the armies of sea monsters; prince with jet-black almond eyes, clad in a gown fluttering as if sewn from thousands of little fish fins.

They said the accident changed him, that he became much more mature through the fall; Alfred just can’t forget the flutter.