Beach Walk

The bus ride home lasted for what seemed like an eternity. Every single bump and stop seemed to add years onto the trip so when we finally reached my stop I felt slight hope that my day may end better than it started. My blue-stone house sat on the corner of my street, hidden from the public’s eye by the trees towering over it. The grass had tiny little droplets of water on the tips, the water glistening in the sun looking like tiny little diamonds sprouting out of the ends.

Barking could be heard from the front door as I opened it. Two fluffy things ran out covering my feet in fluff, like someone place two handfuls of cloud onto my black school shoes.

“Is that you, dear?” I heard my Mother call from the kitchen.

“Just got in, Mum. I’ve got homework, I’ll be upstairs if you need me.” I called back as I walked up the stairs.

I rolled my eyes for the tenth time in the past ten minutes, Mother was calling me from downstairs to come help with dinner, the only issue was I didn’t want to leave the world I had been thrown into when I opened the book in the first place. Closing the book, I was reading, I shuffled downstairs slowly, dreading what’s to come.

Music played loudly as my Mother made dinner, my sister dancing around the cramped space in the kitchen to the beat. Laughter and giggles could be heard probably all the way down the street. The corners of my mouth curved upwards but then faltered, I never understood my Mother and Sister, not personally anyway.

“Do you need any help?” I asked, though I found something to do before I got a reply. They continued on doing what they were doing, as if I had never entered the room; like a ghost floating around the house, drifting from room to room, never fully understanding what was happening around me.

The spicy sauce swished around my mouth creating a fire everywhere it went. Quickly swallowing it, I gulped down mouthfuls of water, the icy liquid runs along the burnt track left on my tongue effectively cooling it down. Mother and Sister were enjoying their meal, murmuring between bites, the occasional laugh slipping out. I sat there and let my thoughts wander the deserted streets of my mind. Why couldn’t I understand my family? Why do they understand each other to the point where they finish each other’s sentences’, but I can’t even grasp what the conversations’ about?

I wiped my wet plate on the tea towel that is hanging off of the old rusty oven in the kitchen, its’ rough material felt unnatural against my soft hands. Thoughts began to swirl around my mind, constantly reminding me of things I need to do. Deeper into my mind lay thoughts I don’t dare to touch, that tell me what to do and when to do it. Thoughts that I once thought were burdens, taunting me everywhere I go, never leaving. Now I’m glad for them. For keeping me occupied, allowing my imagination to be unlimited, for keeping me occupied and not letting me stress on things out of my control. And I will never be lonely.

“Can I go for a walk down to the beach?” I ask Mother, my voice soft and a tired expression painted over my face. Mother nods, but a curious look came over her face.

“Why would you want to go to the beach at this hour, sweetie?” I shrug

“I don’t know? Just want to get out for a bit. I’ll be back soon.” She simply nods, tells me to be careful and goes back to her little chat with sister. Thanks for caring. I thought as I rolled my eyes.

I really don’t know why I want to go to the beach at night. I would never do this, but yet I am. Tying the coat string around my waist and stepping out into the icy night air.

Small grains of sand seep between my toes. Water splashes at my ankles and a strong wind runs across the beach with a strong sea-salt scent. The waves lapped over and over again as they flattened against the shore. The sun set a long time ago and the only light I had was the florescent glow of the moon. I lay down on a dry patch of sand on the beach my toes still getting flicked by the water. Stars in the sky twinkled and shone like their lives depended on it. Flashing red lights beeped across the sky, the planes’ engines heard from miles away. Every time a cloud drifted in front of the moon my world turned black and I could finally breath knowing I was free to roam around my mind, with no distractions.

I sat up in less than a second, when a massive light zoomed above me followed by a loud splash. Frantically, I looked around searching for the unknown object, just to find that nothing was on the beach. I stood up on shaky legs, and go to turn around. The clouds moved away from the moon, bringing a shimmer of light down onto a piece metal, making it glisten out in the salty water.

‘They did say curiosity killed the cat but it’s just a saying.’ I thought, as I took a step into the water, then another and another. The icy water up to my waist and my legs going numb from the cold, my fingertips are red and my teeth are chattering but I remain looking at the object in the water, mesmerized by its sudden appearance. I stood, barley a few steps away from the unknown object. A loud screeching sound of metal grinding on metal causes me to jump out of my skin.

I glance over my shoulder and I can just see my big, blue-stoned house behind all the wall of trees. I can still see the living rooms’ light on and I can, in fact, hear my Mother and Sister laughing from here. I look back at the ship and see that it now has a large rectangle shape cut out of the side and placed down as a ramp in the water; compelling me to go in. I’m tempted to just leave everything on the beach and at my house and just go, already dreaming of what adventures I might go on. But I also don’t want to leave everything I’ve ever known…

What would you do?