Twisted Dreams

Rocking

From side to side, the boat sways in time with my steady heartbeat.

Rivulets of foamy sea water stream down the sides, pooling in clusters of barnacles clinging to the panels. The sun peers down in interest - but its gaze is blocked by the white, embroidered sail shading my face. I breathe in and out, lungs expanding, chest rising, then falling slowly and then all at once, crashing, splashing, droplets spraying my cheeks and nose—

The taste of salt on my tongue.

I sit up with a sigh, running a hand through my sun-dried hair, fingers tangling in the locks. I frown and squint at the sun, gleeful at having finally caught my eye. All around me lies the open ocean, blue and shimmering with every other color. In some spots, the reflections of the clouds rest upon the surface, wavy but mirrored. In others, only the deep, dark shadows of objects beneath the surface are visible, just barely. Indistinct movement. A dance, a ballet, a theatrical movement of light and color to the tune of waves crashing and seagulls singing.

I’m unsteady on my feet when I rise, but I rise nonetheless.