Wave of Sorrow

 Here’s a story inspired by the phrase “Wave of Sollow,” which I interpret as a metaphor for a tide of sorrow, mingled with the mysterious allure of the sea.

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The Wave of Sollow       The villagers called it the Wave of Sollow. No one knew where the name had come from, but everyone feared its ar

rival.It began as a subtle hum in the air, a resonance that only the old and the sensitive seemed to notice. "The tide speaks," they would say, their voices heavy with foreboding. By the time the hum reached the ears of all, it was too late.Mara first heard it on a quiet evening as she walked along the jagged cliffs overlooking the ocean. The sea, usually restless with foam-topped waves, was unnervingly calm. The horizon seemed to shimmer, as though the sky itself was leaning closer to the water."Do you hear it?" asked her younger brother, Kal, who had followed her against her wishes. He stood barefoot, clutching his fishing rod, his wide eyes reflecting the setting sun.Mara nodded. She felt it more than heard it—a vibration that pulled at her chest, a sorrowful note that seemed to echo deep within her bones."It’s the Wave of Sollow," said an old voice behind them. Elder Ikan, his face weathered like driftwood, emerged from the shadows of the trees. He carried a lantern, its flame flickering weakly against the encroaching twilight. "You mustn’t be near the water when it comes. The wave takes everything—joy, hope, even memory."Mara felt a chill despite the warm breeze. "What is it?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.Elder Ikan sighed, his gaze fixed on the shimmering horizon. "A curse, or perhaps a lament of the sea itself. Once every generation, the Wave of Sollow rises. Those caught in its path are lost—consumed by a sorrow so deep that it drowns the soul.""But why?" Kal asked, his voice trembling. "What does it want?""No one knows," Ikan replied, his voice heavy. "Some say it is the grief of the ocean, mourning all it has taken. Others believe it is a warning, a reckoning for the harm we do to the world. But speculation matters little when it comes. All we can do is survive."The hum grew louder, a mournful wail that seemed to rise from the depths of the sea. The horizon darkened, the shimmering light replaced by an ominous blackness that surged toward the shore like an enormous tidal wave."Run!" Ikan shouted, his voice cutting through the rising roar.Mara grabbed Kal’s hand, dragging him away from the cliffs. The village was in chaos—people screaming, doors slamming, lanterns extinguished as families barricaded themselves indoors. The air grew heavy, oppressive, as if the wave carried the weight of every unspoken grief, every forgotten tragedy.Mara and Kal barely made it to their small cottage when the wave struck. It wasn’t water but a palpable force, a tide of shadow that swept over the land. The world outside disappeared into a haze of black, and the hum turned into a deafening roar. Mara held Kal tightly as the air around them seemed to weep, carrying whispers of loss and despair.And then, just as suddenly as it had come, the wave receded.When Mara opened her eyes, the village was silent. The sea sparkled under the morning sun as though nothing had happened. Yet something had changed. The villagers emerged one by one, their faces blank, their eyes hollow. The Wave of Sollow had taken its toll, leaving behind an eerie stillness.Mara looked at Kal, relieved to see his small smile. "We’re okay," she whispered, though her voice cracked. Yet deep inside, she felt a piece of herself missing, a part she couldn’t name but longed for.As the days passed, Mara noticed the wave’s mark everywhere—friends who no longer remembered their favorite songs, neighbors who stared blankly at the sky, unable to recall why they felt so empty.But Mara knew one thing: the Wave of Sollow would return, as it always did, and the sea would weep again.

---Would you like me to expand on this or focus on a particular aspect of the story?