INTHEENDITDOESNTMATT

   It was strangely peaceful to see the waves crashing against the posts of the pier.  I’d seen them at a distance plenty of times before, both from a boat on the bay or at an angle on the shore, but today I observed the phenomenon from directly above, crouched on the railing of the short pier.   Despite giving it my greatest effort, I couldn’t get myself to enjoy the view.  There was simply nothing in it for me; any other day I would have spent hours gazing at the waves as they hit the wet wood and the rocks beyond, but today my attention was held by the length of rope to my side.  It was a couple meters long, with an empty noo