Solitude and the Sea

One foot softly forwards, bring it down to touch the beach and its pebbled skin. She stood silently, eyes searching the distant horizon for... something. Everyday she stood there. Alone, yet not. The others in the small fishing village would see her, shake their heads, go about their business, leave her to stare out to sea, her thoughts elsewhere, her mind all in ashes around her.

Then one day, it... changed. Not outside. The glances people shot her were the same still. She still looked ever away from the safe shores of her homeland, not quite knowing what it was that she looked for in the rise and falls of the oceans waves, in the voice of the sea, in unknown places just beyond the horizon, not quite seeing, yet always wanting. Yet that day, that one day, things... shifted.

She had fallen asleep on the shore, curled in a hollow, head resting on tired arms, the seas rough voice pounding in her ears, the swish and swill, clatter of pebble upon pebble upon pebble, breathing salt sea air, bitter spray falling. A clear night, with bright moon and cold stars that looked on, judged. The ocean crept steathily towards her, tiny creatures in its tow, watching, but never to touch. The ocean knew her, knew this one deep. The sea was in her bones, though she may never sail with the fisher boys, she would always long to, but never know why. The sea knew why, though it was knowing without words, but in feeling. Perhaps it would share this knowing. Again, it drew near. This time, however, reaching out to the girl, knowing her, showing her what had been there all along, but that she had not known. As she slept, a small smile began to pull at her lips and the familiar lines of hurt and longing began to fade, to disappear. Her muscles began to relax, sharing the newfound peace of mind that was spreading from her still form.

Morning found her waking to the harsh and lonely cry of a seagull, its haunting cry echoing inside her head, replaying, finding a place to reside there inside and to this day, she still looks out to the sea, knowing, feeling, remembering.