Read Online Gathering Water by Regan Claire - Free Book Online Page B

shell-ridden sand as the waves lapped at my feet, the water so much warmer than my memories of the Pacific. Tearing my eyes away from the horizon, I walked away from the water, shimmied out of my shorts, and plunked my backpack in the sand. There were definitely people around, and I was wary of leaving my things unattended, but I needed to get into that water. It was calling to me, just like my old redwood would call to me in California, but infinitely stronger.
    The surf hugged my legs as I walked deeper and deeper into the ocean. When the water reached my thighs, I dove into the next wave and let the water push me to a standing position. With the salty taste of the Atlantic on my tongue, the sound of the waves crashing around me, and the feel of the breeze on my soaked skin, I felt something I had never experienced before; I felt that I had come home. I was more energized, more alive, and more aware than I’d ever been before. It was a heady experience.
    Of course I didn’t get to bask in that wonderful feeli ng for long before I realized I’d had a serious wardrobe malfunction. Diving into a wave in a halter one-piece has consequences. Thank goodness I was facing the horizon, otherwise a beach full of people would have gotten a good look at my, er, goodies. After I adjusted my suit I swam out a little further and just let myself float, rocked by the small swell of waves before they broke.
    With the feel of the ocean ’s power on my back, and the warm sun on my face, I started to relax, probably for the first time in my life. It was nice to just exist , and at that moment I had no concerns, other than periodically checking to make sure my swim-suit was still where it belonged. Occasionally water would splash over my face, and I’d wipe my eyes to get the sting out, but other than that I didn’t really move for ages.
    Eventually I entered into some sort of trance ; my body seemed to feel more, like the waves were going inside of me, and the sun and sky above me seemed brighter, as if I had removed sunglasses, except I wasn’t wearing any to begin with. I was more awake, yet relaxed to the point of dozing off, and just more aware . It’s a little hard to explain exactly, other than to say I felt like Myself with a capital M.
    When my feet finally started dragging in the sand I reluctantly stood up and got out of the water. I kicked myself for not bringing a towel and had to air dry as I walked down the beach to where my things were. My eyes were acting a little funny, because things still looked strange, especially the people on the beach, but I just assumed it was the salt water affecting them in a strange way.
    In addition to things just being brighter than I was used to my body felt strange. My feet tingled from the sand, but this time it wasn’t the heat. It was like my feet were drinking the sand, and the sensation spread to my skin and it felt like it was drinking the air. Pretty soon even my hair felt that way. You know that full feeling you get after drinking a lot of water? I felt like that, but instead of water it felt like I had drunk sunshine.
     
    I promise I’m not crazy.
     
    I finally got to my pile of things, scooped them up, then headed over to the outdoor shower to wash sand off my legs and feet, which reminded me that I hadn’t properly bathed since the morning before. Even though my swimsuit was still soaked, I slid on my shorts and took one last look at the ocean before heading back to the house.
    Perfectly outlined o n the horizon was a man standing knee-deep in the water. Typically I wouldn’t have paid him any attention, but he was standing in the water while wearing a pair of dark colored pants and a matching shirt, definitely not swim wear, and he seemed to be looking straight at me. I looked away for a moment, trying to figure out why his face seemed so familiar, but when I looked again he had disappeared.
    Figuring my eyes were just playing tricks on me, I started down the street still