My Dear Traitor

Peace. Pure peace. My feet were wrapped in a blanket of warm, pink sand, and tendrils of my drying hair were caressing my eyelids and lips as the wind’s fingers pulled them from my wet braid. Like the beating of a lover’s heart, the crashing of the waves dulled out all other noises and was even able to soften the sharp cries of the seagulls circling overhead, hoping for a treat of bread from me. I was close enough to the edge of the water that a light mist landed over my body, cooling skin that was a little overwarmed by the intense rays of the summer sun. In moments like this it seemed like the day stood still, but not in a dreadfully boring way, no- in a blissful way where time was suspended and yet it never seemed to last quite long enough. This was the only time that I felt totally relaxed and at ease. Though I knew the powerful water could crush me just as easily as it did discarded shells, it seemed more like a sleeping dragon that was guarding me instead of a predator lying in wait for me to let my guard down. I languidly propped myself up on my elbows and opened my drowsy eyes, staring idly across the choppy, emerald waters and wondering what could lay beyond that elusive line where the sky pocked with fluffy little clouds touched the rocking water. I wondered at the mysteries held just out of sight- of what lands and people might lay just past that line. Were they very alien from me? Did they have hopes, dreams, and goals? What made them laugh and cry, dance or fall to their knees? I was yanked from my musings by a familiar voice saying, “I knew I’d find you here, Winnie.”