"Fuck you," he said. I kept the pressure on, and five seconds later, he was limp.

I let him go and stood up, looking around the crew's mess to the shocked faces. "When he wakes, tell him if he ever touches a woman like that without permission, I'll break both his arms." Walking out the door, I slammed it shut and walked up the stairs to the main deck.

I couldn't face anyone, not just yet. I went to the rails and looked over the water instead, the quarter moon just rising to the east over the rolling swell. Tears came to my eyes as I thought back at what...