Spellbound

Standing in the shallows where surf meets sand, quickening ripples lick my toes and lap my ankles in frothy delight. Master of indelible farewells, the sun strokes the sky in dreamy pastels — lilac, pink, and baby blue — and sand spreads glorious gold as far as the eye can see. In this ethereal light, the seashore casts its magic.

Playing in the shallows, I hold my children, waiting, watching, and lifting them clear as waves roll in. Paddling, stomping, splashing, laughing, not a care in the world. Making mounds, digging ditches, searching for shells, together.

For a moment, I am lifted too. Then I sway, unstable, as sand is sucked from under my feet by waves that tease then turn. The memory is gone, and I am standing, sinking. Alone.

Tracy is a freelance content writer and copy editor specialising in nature, health, education, and sustainable living.
tracybrightenwriter.com | Nature in Mind | @TracyBrighten1

Image credit: Tracy Brighten.