Edges
As she steps along the top of the ridge that leads down to the shore, Anna feels the warm salty ocean breeze engulf her. The view spectacular as usual, but her mind doesn’t register the beauty today. Instead, she concentrates on keeping her walls up and holding off thoughts of Kyle that flow along her edges. Kyle has been away so long and is so far away, she reflects – why do thoughts of him continue to persist?
Anna sighs and starts her descent to the beach – it is her safe place – a place of cleansing. Reaching the bottom of the ridge, she automatically removes her sandals. Her toes dig into the soft grainy texture of the sand – she always loves this feeling. She hears the waves crashing against the shore about 100 yards away – they seem to call out to her.
She wanders slowly towards the shore’s edge – fighting with each step to keep thoughts of Kyle from penetrating her defenses. She finds herself focusing on the sound of the waves washing against the shore – a repeating loud seductive swooshing sound – getting louder as she nears the shore’s edge.
Finally reaching the shore’s edge, waves wash over her bare feet – and the ocean spray tickles her skin. At first, she thinks she is just hearing things – the seductive swooshing sound that precedes each wave sounds a lot like Kyle’s name – her mind is playing tricks – has to be.
She considers taking a few steps back – just out of reach; but the next wave pulls her forward – and she begins to enjoy the soothing rhythm that flows around her body. She continues to hear Kyle’s name coming from the swooshing sound of the waves against the beach again – she definitely hears it – doesn’t she?
With each wave, the ocean spray dances along her skin – and evokes a familiar sensation – she feels his touch. She suddenly smiles at the memory and thoughts of him flood through. How can he be so far away, she wonders – he feels so close?
…
A group of seagulls sitting idly by the waters edge further north suddenly cry out and fly towards her, which pulls her eyes towards the man walking along the beach’s edge – and he’s coming her way…
Vision
Kyle watches Anna descend from the ridge – he knew she would come here today. At least he hoped she would. He’d been sitting, all morning, about 100 yards north of where she normally entered this beach – really, their beach. This would have been their day – this should have been their day. After four years together, he thought…
But, it isn’t … and now watching Anna descend the ridge towards the beach without him stings – stings bad. He didn’t really expected this level of pain – but, he knew he should have. He wonders if she still carries any thoughts of him with her – their last moment together seemed so sad and final. He decides – she probably buried them away, like he tried to do.
Almost one year away and he still thinks of that moment every day. “Get yourself together Kyle”, he commands himself as he tries to shake the sadness out of his body. Slowly, he rises and takes a step towards the edge of the ridge – then backs away and begins to aimlessly pace about – watching as Anna walks along the beach towards the shore’s edge. “What is wrong with you? – Move!” he silently screams within.
He’d come all this way to see her … and she is so close now … what is stopping him? As hard as he tries to overcome it, the sadness of that day seems to overwhelm him and something inside refuses to let his legs move him towards her. Memories begin to flood his mind and cloud over his sight … the image of Anna slowly fades from view. “Is she really here – or is he seeing what he wants to be”, he hears himself wonder.
…
The sudden cry of seagulls snaps him out of the cloudy haze – and as his vision slowly clears, he sees her – as impossibly beautiful as ever. She seems so close to him now … but, he wonders how he got on the shore – walking towards her. This time, however, he ignores the inner questioning voice and continues towards Anna. He begins to hear her name with the crashing waves and feel her touch with the ocean spray.
And yet, a flash of light that hits his eyes distracts him for a moment – and he looks up towards the ridge he was on … who is that guy pacing aimlessly about he wonders… The crashing wave sound of Anna’s name pulls him back towards her – as he continues along the shore’s edge.
Artist: Garmash; Author: Mike Evans
