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Creative Nonfiction

The hot sun was setting low over the horizon; its crimson ray’s lit jagged rocks as wave upon wave, bombarded them; as if to purge. Its warmth still felt, by the tiny crabs and insects scuttling into tiny crevices to escape the heat.

Out in the depths of the ocean; under the reddening flame of sky; a shape rose for a second, only to be tossed aside in the torrent once more.

 Seagulls flew overhead into the deserting sun that lay on the water like a huge, red ball; their cry plaintively echoed in the vast emptiness; their majestic bodies in tune with the currents warmed by the sun. The sea; a mass of blackness, rose and swelled; agitated, by the gathering winds; the sun made its final farewell, leaving a tinge of pale pink to float on the waves.

Now, a distinctive ‘thing,’ gave way to a body; arms swimming towards the distant shore; against the last rays of pinkness as darkness overtook the sky.

On the horizon the shape remerged; fighting its way through the huge tempest of waves to avoid the huge rocks that threatened to batter and fling back into the thrashing depths of the ocean; like warriors guarding their prizes in battle. Razor sharp pinnacles spewed outwards as the blackness rushed upwards before they were lost in the huge surge of foamy water; only to be regurgitated back into the swollen mass; but with each surge the momentous blackness tossed the body further and further away from its goal; another deep roll pushed it painful under the sea and darkness overtook it. 

At last, after hours of torment, the blue, green depths spewed the body upwards out of the abyss; to find solid under its feet. All around was the blackness of the sea, for miles and miles; wearily he stood and surveyed his kingdom. His silhouette; featureless in the near moonless sky; he was naked, only for skimpy pants that covered his manhood; he waded against the muddy clingy squelch, on to wet spongy sand, to leave large footprints; before the shallow waves gobbled them up;

 It was a man; tall, and muscular; with a shake of his head; brought a mass of curls to cascade down his back a face; the features, hidden, in the moonless sky.

Shouts and cheers echoed in the air, a gentle breeze blew; he shivered despite the warmth of the night

 Strings of colourful lights twinkled on along the edge of the pier gave some much needed light to guide him.  ; turning the darkness into a firework display lightening the sky overhead; then subsided again. Shouts and cheers echoed in the air. Shafts of bright lights, and music, blasted out of the cavernous outlets that were situated all around the bay turning darkness, into a magnificent firework display; lightening the sky overhead with loud bangs and nerve tingling shrieks of coloured strands of light; rained from high in the sky down onto the beach below to extinguish into nothingness. It seemed to herald the arrival of a jumble of tiny specks of light. Stars, thousands, appeared as if by magic.

 He was exhausted, mentally and physically; what had; after so many hectic days and nights, that the last weeks had been.   Arguments and accusations, lies and betrayal; from family, friends and co workers had been too much. He needed space and had decided to swim as far away as he could. Not intentionally meaning to ‘do something silly.’ But it had felt right at the time.

But, even his escape had turned into a horrendous nightmare; getting caught in the throes of a whirlpool; that had dragged him underneath the deep black waters; to be thrashed around like a carnival waltzes, pummelled by rocks and stones, whilst vainly trying to breathe; he had blacked out.

He found himself thrown upon huge rocks in the middle of the ocean; with no idea, where he was? Instinct had kicked in and with perseverance, he never knew he had, swam; following his initiative to arrive? He did not know; but it was land and he was alive.

 The moon gave out a faint shadow between the clouds, as he walked up the pebble- laden sand towards the light.

 He found a burrow of kinds; that children had dug; making their sandcastles and moats, a few tattered paper flags clung to them in triumph. It gave some shelter from the cool breeze; whilst he rested for a moment or two. He laid his head on a sandy pillow of sorts and gazed up into the sky.

It seemed only minutes later, he awoke. The moon was raised in the sky giving a warm cover of white light. He lay where he was; content and drowsy. For now, he just wanted to be on his own; to get his thoughts in order if he could. He hadn’t for so long; what with pressures of work, and his family. He fleetingly thought of the worry they must be going through; but at this moment nothing mattered.

Voices rang out; high, excited, laughter and giggles. Late night relievers, teenagers, couples, enjoying some high jinxes; before going home to their staid and normal lives. If only his life was so simple.

 He smiled; his body warm and relaxed; something, he hadn’t been for a long, long time.

 Perhaps, he’d call out to them in a little while? As he dazed up at the wondrous sight; his heart quickened; the stars, so many of them, tiny pieces of someone else’s lives perhaps? Aliens in other worlds; maybe they, too were laid on a beach, watching him? They twinkled and weaved a spell around him as he gazed in wonder and awe at the sight.

The hot sun was setting low over the horizon; its crimson ray’s lit jagged rocks as wave upon wave, bombarded them; as if to purge. Its warmth still felt, by the tiny crabs and insects scuttling into tiny crevices to escape the heat.

Out in the depths of the ocean; under the reddening flame of sky; a shape rose for a second, only to be tossed aside in the torrent once more.

 Seagulls flew overhead into the deserting sun that lay on the water like a huge, red ball; their cry plaintively echoed in the vast emptiness; their majestic bodies in tune with the currents warmed by the sun. The sea; a mass of blackness, rose and swelled; agitated, by the gathering winds; the sun made its final farewell, leaving a tinge of pale pink to float on the waves.

Now, a distinctive ‘thing,’ gave way to a body; arms swimming towards the distant shore; against the last rays of pinkness as darkness overtook the sky.

On the horizon the shape remerged; fighting its way through the huge tempest of waves to avoid the huge rocks that threatened to batter and fling back into the thrashing depths of the ocean; like warriors guarding their prizes in battle. Razor sharp pinnacles spewed outwards as the blackness rushed upwards before they were lost in the huge surge of foamy water; only to be regurgitated back into the swollen mass; but with each surge the momentous blackness tossed the body further and further away from its goal; another deep roll pushed it painful under the sea and darkness overtook it. 

At last, after hours of torment, the blue, green depths spewed the body upwards out of the abyss; to find solid under its feet. All around was the blackness of the sea, for miles and miles; wearily he stood and surveyed his kingdom. His silhouette; featureless in the near moonless sky; he was naked, only for skimpy pants that covered his manhood; he waded against the muddy clingy squelch, on to wet spongy sand, to leave large footprints; before the shallow waves gobbled them up;

 It was a man; tall, and muscular; with a shake of its head; brought a mass of curls to cascade down his back a face; the features, hidden, in the moonless sky.

Shouts and cheers echoed in the air, a gentle breeze blew; he shivered despite the warmth of the night

 Strings of colourful lights twinkled on along the edge of the pier gave some much needed light to guide him.  ; turning the darkness into a firework display lightening the sky overhead; then subsided again. Shouts and cheers echoed in the air. Shafts of bright lights, and music, blasted out of the cavernous outlets that were situated all around the bay turning darkness, into a magnificent firework display; lightening the sky overhead with loud bangs and nerve tingling shrieks of coloured strands of light; rained from high in the sky down onto the beach below to extinguish into nothingness. It seemed to herald the arrival of a jumble of tiny specks of light. Stars, thousands, appeared as if by magic.

 He was exhausted, mentally and physically; what had; after so many hectic days and nights, that the last weeks had been.   Arguments and accusations, lies and betrayal; from family, friends and co workers had been too much. He needed space and had decided to swim as far away as he could. Not intentionally meaning to ‘do something silly.’ But it had felt right at the time.

But, even his escape had turned into a horrendous nightmare; getting caught in the throes of a whirlpool; that had dragged him underneath the deep black waters; to be thrashed around like a carnival waltzes, pummelled by rocks and stones, whilst vainly trying to breathe; he had blacked out.

He found himself thrown upon huge rocks in the middle of the ocean; with no idea, where he was? Instinct had kicked in and with perseverance, he never knew he had, swam; following his initiative to arrive? He did not know; but it was land and he was alive.

 The moon gave out a faint shadow between the clouds, as he walked up the pebble- laden sand towards the light.

 He found a burrow of kinds; that children had dug; making their sandcastles and moats, a few tattered paper flags clung to them in triumph. It gave some shelter from the cool breeze; whilst he rested for a moment or two. He laid his head on a sandy pillow of sorts and gazed up into the sky.

It seemed only minutes later, he awoke. The moon was raised in the sky giving a warm cover of white light. He lay where he was; content and drowsy. For now, he just wanted to be on his own; to get his thoughts in order if he could. He hadn’t for so long; what with pressures of work, and his family. He fleetingly thought of the worry they must be going through; but at this moment nothing mattered.

Voices rang out; high, excited, laughter and giggles. Late night relievers, teenagers, couples, enjoying some high jinxes; before going home to their staid and normal lives. If only his life was so simple. He could make out evening strollers; arms entwined in each other as they walked oblivious to anything except  

 He smiled; his body warm and relaxed; something, he hadn’t been for a long, long time.

 Perhaps, he’d call out to them in a little while? As he dazed up at the wondrous sight; his heart quickened; the stars, so many of them, tiny pieces of someone else’s lives perhaps? Aliens in other worlds; maybe they, too were laid on a beach, watching him? They twinkled and weaved a spell around him as he gazed in wonder and awe at the sight.

 There was time enough to put right the wrongs; but for now; he was happy to just lie here peacefully; and star gaze.   

March 01, 2021 12:24

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