Summer

Summer

I sat on the break water, the soft, golden sand running through my toes. The blazing sun smiled down at me and I licked my ice-cream. I savored every mouthful as I watched the waves dance gently up and down the rocks. I grinned happily. This summers day couldn’t have been more perfect.

I jumped off of the break water and ran into the sea. The cool, crisp water splashed up my legs. The water was so warm. The fresh morning breeze blew my hair and I licked my lips, satisfied by the ice-cream. But then it all went wrong. The blazing sun hid behind a cloud, casting a dark shadow over the ocean. Raindrops silently fell from the sky. The water turned cold, the birds stopped tweeting and the smile wiped off my face. Summer? Yeah right.

How could the weather change so quickly? It was like the rain cast a spell on the sun telling it to go away.

The waves became more angry. The water, which by now was icy cold, whipped against my arms. A shiver went down my spine. Although the beach had now turned unpleasant, part of me wanted to stay. I looked towards the horizon and got a shock at what I saw...

A figure. In the distance. In the middle of the sea, where the water is deep. It was only a silhouette. But even so it was like I was looking at someone I knew. Then the figure waved. So I waved back. What else was there to do? Well, I must have blinked because when I looked back they were gone. Out of the blue. Vanished...

So there I was, staring at nothing, nothing staring back. I waited, hoping for something to appear again. But nothing did. So I shouted, calling and calling for them. No answer. I didn’t even know who they were, what they were doing or why I was so interested. But I was curious...

During the next few days the weather never brightened up. The clouds stayed dark and mysterious. The waves were ferocious, the sky was the colour of graphite, the sea a misty blue. But I waited. Because I wanted to know.

Weeks went by and the clouds kept spurting rain, June or not. My fingers were permanently crossed hoping the sun would come out so I could explore the beach and hunt for the figure. But the sun never came. Well, yet anyway.

It happened one night, when I was asleep in bed. The moon a perfect crescent in the sky, the owls hooting in the tree. I woke up, though I’m not quite sure what woke me. I slipped my coat and shoes on and walked down to the beach. It felt like the sea was calling my name. Anyway the beach was only at the end of our driveway.

The wind slapped my cheeks as I ran towards the ocean. I didn’t dare step into the freezing water, although somehow I could feel the chill of the waves. When I looked towards the horizon I saw what I’d been waiting to see.

The figure, just standing there. Right in the middle of the sea, where the water is deep, just like before. So I waved. I wanted to see if they waved back. They did. But it was a sad, lonely wave.

The silhouette was so far away yet I could just make out a blue glint in their eyes. I called for them. It was like a tape was playing over my actions from a few weeks ago. I listened, listened, listened and then heard a reply. That voice. So gentle it was barely a whisper. Barely a sound.

I felt a sudden urge to run over to them. Mad as it sounds I did. Well I tried anyway. The waves crashed against me as I swam and swam. My teeth chattered from the cold and I could feel goose-pimples on my thighs and arms. I knew this was really dangerous. But my life needed an injection of fear.

I didn’t really see it coming. But it came, I’m sure of that. A wave. The most enormous wave that lunged at me with a thud. The last thing I saw was the figure waving at me. Followed by me falling into the deep, blue sea...

I sat on the break-water the soft, golden sand running through my toes. The blazing sun smiled down at me, but I had no ice-cream to lick. I had no idea where I was, except for the fact that I was washed up on an unknown beach. My memories of the previous night will never leave me, nor will the voice of the figure.

I don’t know if I’ll ever make it back. I really don’t. I’ll never forget the past few events that have occurred in my life. Strange events. Unbelievable events. Whether the figure was real I’ll never know. I never even told you my name. Stella.

I watched the waves dance gently up and down the rocks. I jumped off of the break-water and ran to the sea. The cool, clear water splashed up my legs. The water was so warm and the crisp morning breeze blew my hair. My new life couldn’t have been more perfect...

By Molly Littleboy