54 Stars and Counting
The waves crashed onto the shore simultaneously, leaving curvy wisps of foam clinging to the sand. The tide was leaving traces on the shore; marking their highest points. I crawled through the hole in the barbed wire fence, clutching my bags then bent down to roll up my torn jeans. The moon was glowing so harshly, I was instantly captivated by the radiant, luminescent glow of the water. Light glided over the waves like mermaids, and the stars' reflections on the water reminded me of dancing fairies. I flicked on my lantern pointlessly, and stepped into the water and looked down. There was a face staring back up at me, a mere reflection of me: it was the same blue- eyed brunette I had always known. Sadly, there were unusual traces of melancholy in her- my- expression. I felt a consuming emptiness inside me and ran, ran away from the past. I kept running until I reached the old fishing shack. I tore at the cobwebs that concealed the entrance, and I pushed the door open. I collapsed onto the rotting wooden floor paneling and began to sob. My plastic bag had fallen with me and its contents cluttered the floor; two apples, a stale roll and a hunk of cheese lay scattered on the ground. I picked up the food, still weeping, and set them back inside the bag. I tried to think back to a time when I didn't scavenge dumpers and rob the market on Main Street for food. I really couldn't. All I could remember was mama's lullaby. She would begin humming the melody to me, her voice sweet; dripping with honey. The lyrics danced on her lips, then floated into the air. When she sang it my bedroom was filled with the sound o a thousand bells chiming. At least, that's how I'd always imagined it. The only solid proof I had that there even was a lullaby, were the lyrics:
"Smile, Angeline,
Do not fret,
Don't be upset,
Mama's here- hush, hush,
Feel your eyes drooping,
Hear your breath slowing-hush, hush,
Look out your window,
Count out the stars,
Dream of the planets,
Venus, Mars
Pretend you are dancing on Saturn's rings,
Remember-hush, hush,
That you can do anything."
So I did.