Beached

C•H•A•P•T•E•R O•N•E

     The sound of the Pacific crashing against the rough coast is what wakes me. The view of the choppy sand comes to play in my confused state, offering a sense of where i currently was. Unfortunately, it does little to help me in any way, and the coarse grained sand only leads to my utter demise as i become even more confused.

      This was now a regular occurrence, but has only affected me this gradually for the past two weeks, sleepwalking was a nightmare itself. I usually ended up on the coast, seeing that i lived right on the edge, my Father has yet to know of my morning routine, and since i typically woke up before dawn, i was up way earlier than my dad. Since it’s currently summer, it has yet to become a serious issue. I scared myself enough, i didn't need my dad to worry either, he needs his full attention for work, and work alone.

    Both my thin t-shirt and shorts were soaked, from the sand beneath me, and the rising tides lapping at my body. The rise of high tide nip at my outstretched legs, enclosing around my feet and toes. The salt from the misty water burns the bottom of my feet, almost numbing the sores i have from walking on the disheveled sand.

     I lay there for a few seconds, on my side, admiring the rough turf of the ocean, the breaking wave, and seafoam that borders the sleek waves as the great, mystifying sea inhales, and exhales over and over again. An ocean breeze imitates the waves, defining, prominent, and no doubt worth more than gold, in my opinion. The wind quickly rolls off of the surface of the ocean, gliding across my face, chilling my entire body, and due to my wet clothes, i have next to nothing protecting me, exposing me to the cool exhale of resisting waves crashing against the frigid air, perhaps miles away from the very beach i lay on.

     Standing up slowly, i brush the irriguous sand from my arms and legs, and grimace when i reach for my face. Cringing, i vigorously rub and scrape not only wet sand, but sharp, jagged shell fragments from the left side of my face. Finally getting the the last of the sand off of my loose t-shirt, i turn to face the ocean again before spotting the all too famous Haystack Rock.

     I give the landmark a genuine smile, that rock was my mad, and assured me that i have not wandered too far from my home. My house was to the right of the rock, right on the coast, and all too easy to point out, we were the only house around. We live where not too many people are even allowed to wander, due to scientific equipment, and ongoing numeric research on several secrets hidden in the cove.

About a month ago, my father had decided to uproot our small family of two, and seize a bigger marine job. We were going from the gorgeous beaches of North Carolina, to the gloomy and rough swells of Oregon. Now, North Carolina may have its moments, but oregon is nothing like i have seen before. I'm not complaining, i fit in, i dare say that i belong here, in oregon. But, i will miss the everlasting sunshine, and soft sand. How my long hair would be left soft from the warm, salty atlantic, instead of being tangled from the pacific winds.

But, mind you, that salt eventually turns your hair into straw, and that wind adds life and a sense of freedom to your whole configurement. Even as i stand here, against the seemingly jet stream of air, and a salty spray, my hands on my hips, and my hair slowly slinking from the constricting elastic hair band.

     I can feel the power and credibility of the ocean radiating, i can physically feel the push and pull, it makes me feel as if i'm apart of the sea, apart of, and belong to such a strong and natural body. This is my liquid gold, my drug, my life, my hypnotic safe place, and I always seem to find myself at the mercy of the great ocean, weather in my conciouse state, or while i sleep, im always here, it's a natural pull, one that i can't pull away from, both physically, and mentally.

I was never really close to people, i could never hold a relationship with anyone but my father. But, i did have that one person, one that understands me the most. He was my best friend, and eventually turned into someone i couldn't seem to let go of. Unfortunately, i learned that sometimes love is the biggest lie, and i was left broken, my heart especially.