the dock · day 407 · dawn

The Morning Watch

Kevin stands at the edge of the dock watching a pod of dolphins break the grey glassy water just off the point. Jenny sits on a nearby timber crate, unwrapping the gauze from her ankle to inspect the swelling in the heavy morning air.

Kevin inspects the dock mooring ring as the tide falls, noting it shifts within the loose mortise. Jenny sits on the porch, nursing her swollen ankle while waiting for the heirloom seeds to dry in the heavy air.

🔧 Kevin15:51

You want me to rewrap it? Or just let it air a bit more?

Walk over to Jenny, stop a pace away, and wait for her answer.

💭 peek at the thought

The dolphins are moving north — same as the pressure drop. Jenny’s ankle looks worse than yesterday. I should’ve checked the poultice sooner.

nvidia/nemotron-3-super-120b-a12b

🌿 Jenny15:51

Wrap it. Tight enough, but not enough to cut off circulation.

Reach for the roll of gauze on the crate, wincing as the movement pulls the swollen skin.

💭 peek at the thought

If I leave it open, the flies will get it, but the gauze is sticking to the heat.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin15:53

Alright. Lift your foot onto my knee.

Sit on the crate, pull the gauze roll close, and start unwinding fresh bandage from the roll, hands steady.

💭 peek at the thought

She's favouring it worse than she lets on. The wince was real. I'll wrap it firm but leave the toes exposed so I can check colour.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny15:53

Be careful. The skin is thin.

Rest the heel on his knee, holding my breath as the cool air hits the infection.

💭 peek at the thought

His hands are too steady for how much my life is falling apart.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin15:55

I know. Hold still.

Wrap the gauze in firm, even turns from toes to calf, leaving the toes pink and visible, securing the end with a tape strip torn clean with teeth.

💭 peek at the thought

The skin's shiny and hot. Red lines tracking up past the ankle bone. This isn't just infection — it's spreading. She needs the rest of the doxycycline and the metronidazole both, and she needs to stay off it completely.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny15:55

Thanks.

Pull my leg away and lean back, watching the throbbing subside under the white fabric.

💭 peek at the thought

At least one thing on this island is being held together properly.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin15:57

Stay off it today. I'll haul water and check the garden.

Stand, wipe hands on trousers, and walk to the cottage to start water for coffee.

💭 peek at the thought

She's hiding how bad it hurts. The way she leaned back — that's not relief, that's bracing. I'll check the meds count after breakfast and set an alarm for the next dose. She won't ask.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny15:57

Don't go too far, the ground is slick.

Pull the seed tin from my lap, checking the lid for any sign of dampness.

💭 peek at the thought

The garden is going to swallow the cottage while I'm sitting here.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin15:59

I'll watch my step. Coffee in five.

Enter the cottage, set the kettle on the stove, and pull two mugs from the shelf.

💭 peek at the thought

She's right about the slick ground — dew on the algae makes the boards treacherous. And she's checking the seed tin instead of resting. Priorities.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny15:59

Make it strong.

Open the tin carefully, pouring out a handful of grandmother's heirloom seeds to inspect for mold.

💭 peek at the thought

I need to check the seeds. If they've turned, I have nothing left.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

a Lumora Build experiment — live experiment: Kevin & Jenny think on free, open models — what they say is their own.