Artist: Garmash
Nature’s Breath
Perfect Pebble
Sara reclined against the sloping shore of the beach with her palms flat on the sand behind her. She felt the cool wet softness of the sand on her skin. She casually extended her right foot forward. A small wave washed over her leg – refreshing. She exhaled the worries of the previous days while extending her other leg.
A few moments passed … perhaps many as she drifted into quiet contemplation. With each soothing wave that washed over her legs she drifted further. Looking out at the horizon, she let her mind wander. Yet, she felt something vying for her attention. She puzzled, what was teasing the edges of her mind? After all, she just saw clouds flowing along the surface of the water on the horizon. Yet, she felt there was something more…
She continued to concentrate on the horizon. What was it? There was a steady movement of clouds, a certain rhythm, almost like breaths, and another wave. Strange, the clouds seemed to move in rhythm with the waves. Was she imagining things? She felt almost lulled by the movement – in step with her breaths…
“Sara, Sara, look at this peeble. It is perfect.” Alex squealed.
Sara snapped back to her surroundings. She had to gather herself for a moment before asking “Peeble?” “Oh, you mean pebble.” “That’s nice, Lexu” she floated out. “No! No! Really look, Sara” Alex pleaded. “See how smooth and flat the surface is. It’s almost perfectly round” Alex beamed. “I can get 5 skips across the water for sure. Tato said 5 skips would wake the lady of the lake.”
Her thoughts momentarily diverted, Sara inspected the pebble more thoroughly this time. She gave her younger brother an approving smile. He grinned ear to ear.
“Now watch me skip it. I bet we see the lady of the lake for sure.” Alex ran a finger around the pebble’s circular edge. He flashed Sara another satisfied grin and with the suddenness of youth, he flipped the pebble in his hand and darted further down the shore to his special pebble skipping spot.
Alex came to an abrupt stop – just out of the reach of the breaking waves on the shore – he turned and looked at Sara. Once sure he had her attention, he faced the lake and carefully took one step forward with his right foot.
He pulled his right arm back parallel to the ground – elbow bent at his waist. He used his right foot to launch his left side forward – his arm pulled further back behind his body. Sara watched his practiced fluid forward motion with a bit of amazement. He seemed to release the pebble at the last possible moment.
Alex never took his eyes off the pebble as his fingers reluctantly released it – spinning and gliding perfectly parallel to the horizon. The first brush with the lake was ten feet out. He could see ripples in the water as the pebble returned to flight. The pebble glided a little to the left and brushed against the water another ten feet out. The skipping movement transfixed Alex.
As the pebble continued with its third and fourth dance with the surface, the lake seemed to calm – as if waiting – anticipating. Alex kept his focus on counting the skips, but Sara began to feel that strange something surface within her again. The fifth skip was almost an embrace with the water. With a final kiss on the surface, the lake accepted her gift as the pebble slowly receded from sight.
Sara felt the breath on her skin before it happened …
Whisper
…Whoosh!
The wave caught Sara by surprised as the water rushed over her legs. Alex, wide-eyed, rushed to his sister. “Is that her Sara?” he asked. “It must be. What did you hear? What did you hear?”
Sara looked up at her little brother’s expectant expression. She knew what he wanted to hear. What would Tato say to him now? He could weave a magical world together with the natural skill of a master storyteller. Sara swallowed his absence within her.
“I think … I think I heard her whisper your name” Sara said at last – not quite sure why she hesitated. “See, I told you!” Alex beamed. “I’ll find us the perfect pebble and then she’ll stay longer.” With renewed belief, he was off to search for the perfect pebble…
Sara smiled at the energy of her little brother. For herself however, she decided to lie back to rest again.
…
Whoosh…
The sensation of water and foam startled her awake. How long had she drifted off? Had she fallen asleep? No, she had been awake – she was almost certain. She was just thinking of something. What was it? She was certain it was important. But now, the thought teased her – just out of reach…
The water seemed to permeate her skin and her sight blurred with a growing mist about her. Her breathing deepened and slowed a bit. She found herself focusing on her breaths. There was a sense of rhythm to it … another wave washed over her… this time it didn’t surprise her.
The mist around her glistened with light in all directions. Something about it was vaguely familiar – relaxing. She felt a moving sensation… a rhythm to it. She slowly breathed in…
The soft whisper, “Sara” surprised her …
Michael
