She could not hear the vibration from her phone. The boat was only a few clicks out to sea; land was still within her eyes' reach. The waves wandered beneath the floating vessel, caressing the hull with their moist palms. She laid down on the deck, on her side, and rocked like a baby in its crib. With her ear pressed to the floor, she listened to the muffled voice of the ocean. It was a conversation with breaths and sighs, untainted by words with too much or no meaning. She walked to the stern and crouched down, dipping her fingers in the water. It was cool to the touch and washed away the tears that stained her hands invisibly after she wiped her eyes. She had added her own salt to the sea.
The boat was being carried further away from land. And she stood and watched as she was forced to retreat. The beach was bare and empty. Her family had not yet awoken and so had not yet discovered the missing boat. Water had mollified her; she no longer contained any fury whatsoever in regards to her kin. She was simply still whilst another world crashed and swirled in chaos around her.
The amorphous clouds gave way to the penetrating sun rays that came from beyond the land. And as the sun continued to rise above the hills and trees, so did the sparkling sheen in her eyes. With scintillating vision she turned away and took naked steps to the wheel. She checked her phone. There was a message from a number she never forgot. Her finger hovered over the button that would reveal the last words. She pressed it. But the signal was lost, and so was the message. She threw it away.
(photo via AnOtherMag.com)
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