For Mel, because I love her more than life itself and want her to find her bliss. Written for the Starvation monthly challenge.
I wiggle my toes. Small grains fall between them and my foot sinks farther into the cold sand. I can hear the quiet rush of moving water. The gentle night breeze carries my hair with it, letting it dance in the air. Swirling around me is the sharp tang of salt. I inhale deeply and take in the familiar humid air.
Something about this place has drawn me here. Whatever it is, it isn't anything tangible or reasonable. It is the comforting taste of salt on my lips. It is the knowledge that out there, there are millions of creatures living. It is a small warmth in my chest, that makes me feel whole for the first time in a long while. The closest word I can find to describe it is hope.
My body aches. The sensible part of my brain is telling me to leave. My hands tremble as I run them through the strands of my light brown hair. Despite this, I cannot make myself move. I don't want to leave. I wiggle my toes again, trying to keep my feet planted here forever.
I sigh. The same breeze that is carrying my hair carries the noise of my contentment across the beach. Smiling softly, I imagine the sound penetrating the ocean, letting the water carry it to the depths of the sea where it will be preserved forever. My eyes follow the trail of light from the moon to the edge of the water; almost as if they are following the trail my sigh has left.
The small waves lick the sand near my feet. Its gentle ebb and flow is like the sleeping breaths of a little child. With each passing moment the waves flow bigger. Soon they are washing over the sand my feet are buried in. As they pull away, I stumble forward. It is almost as if my sigh is begging me to follow it.
I crash into the waves. Water splashes all around me. Each step I take brings me farther out into the vast stretch of dark, tumbling waves. As I try to keep walking, my steps become loud and clumsy. I keep fighting against the water until I suddenly come to a stop.
I submerge myself under the water. When I come up gasping for air, I shake my hair away from my face. It sprays water all around me, and comes back down on my head like soft rain. As the water rains down on me, I notice that my dress that was feather light out on the beach has become much heavier here. I pull it over my head, drenching myself in even more water, and let it float away. My eyes follow my dress for a moment, letting it drag away all my pain with it. Its stark, white fabric is soon consumed by the navy waves.
I start to laugh, out here surrounded by only the ocean. This is perfection.