Wilson

So many years, I was sailing the sea. Sun shining on my shoulders, all the fish I could eat. My boat was sturdy and carried me along effortlessly. Never a lack of wind in my sails, always on track.

And then darkness set in. A few clouds at first. Some rain, and then the sea turned violent and trashed me about. I held on for dear life, clinging to the only stable structure I had. The storm eventually subsided, but the sky stayed dark. My boat was battered, had holes and was sinking. I had no sun, wind, no food or water. Nothing at all to keep me going. I jumped off what was left of my boat and floated, for a long time I floated not thinking about anything but the darkness and water keeping me heavy and alone.

I fell asleep inside along the way and woke up on an island. I walked the beach until I came upon a long boardwalk . I sat on its steps in the darkness, watching the shooting stars and the sun begin to break the day. The first time in a long time that I had seen the sun, felt its warmth. With enough light, I walked to the end of the boardwalk looked over my shoulder, taking a picture with my eye that I would keep forever.

The boardwalk took me over the dune to a place where the flowers bloomed, the food was plentiful, wine flowed. Rest came easy with the peace the island gave me. It was sunny each day and there was never a lack of happiness.

The search planes began coming. I ducked and hid as they swept low over the tree lines looking for me, not wanting to be found. The island gave me everything I needed and then some. The searchers were relentless, despite my best efforts I couldn’t hide forever. They found me and escorted me back into those familiar dark, uncharted waters. Floating, wondering what it will take to rebuild my stable structure and sail again. Sun shining on my shoulders, all the fish I can eat. Never a lack of wind in my sails, always on track.

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