Peaceful Summer Days

Image of Short Story
Close your eyes. Listen. Listen to the waves, occasionally coming up to splash your feet as the ocean sings it’s a lullaby. And, listen to the serene swaying of the trees. Listen to the whispers of the wind, telling you the secrets of the earth. As the sun embraces you with warmth on this warm summer day.

“Come on! You’ve been out here all day.” My eyes open to a beautiful ocean landscape, something right out of a dream. But, a voice awakes me from my reverie “You know that Grandma doesn’t like it when you're out here all day.”

“Just a little longer? You know I’ll be safe.” Unlike the sounds of life, listening to the sounds of humanity becomes deafening. The animalist fighting, yelling and screaming of society is too much to bear at times like this. The constant hell I am subjected to when I leave this beach. The bickering of family and friends, the violent arguing of leaders, the screams of the innocent. It’s too loud, too quick. One second someone's a representative of rage and the next their a subject to sadness. It’s madness.

“I worry about you, all out here by yourself. I know it’s,” A pause, far too long, “unfavorable at home, but I still worry.” Bare footsteps sound behind me and I close my eyes, hoping to fall back asleep. But, a hand finds it’s a way onto my shoulder. A hand I know from childhood. A hand that I have held, shoved, hit, and have done so much more too. A hand that bares history.

I let the hand stay, but keep my eyes close. The soft and comforting song of the ocean rings in my ears. The humming of the wind and the murmurs of the trees. The chorus of seabirds in the distance, a blissful ignorance. They join together to make an orchestra of serenity and tranquility. Of harmony and euphony. Of peace.

“Can you say something?” I lay down onto the sand and run my hands through it, feeling the shells, big and small, fall through my hands. The smell of the sea is overwhelming, but, it’s soothing. I know that she’s looking at me, seeing if I even twitch, but nonetheless, I keep my eyes closed. “Please?”

“Listen.”

“Huh?”

“Listen to life.” She sighs.

“To what? Your not making any sense.” She’s getting mad. If I continue on, the beast will come through. If the beast comes, it will destroy the music and this daydream. It will replace it with terror and hopelessness. Ear pricing shrieks and cries of hate will dictate. Peace will be overwhelmed by an unforgiving force. A force which is fed by rage and wrath which will pillage and demolish hope. You won’t be able to listen.

“Close your eyes.” She makes a confused sound, still staring at me, “Just do it.” She lays down next to me in the sand and I can no longer feel her gaze. So, I speak.

“Listen to the waves, occasionally coming up to splash your feet as the ocean sings it’s a lullaby. And, listen to the serene swaying of the trees. Listen to the whispers of the wind, telling you the secrets of the earth. As the sun embraces you with warm on this warm summer day.” A wave comes up to our knees while the ocean sings. The trees sway in the murmurs of the wind. The sun kisses my skin as we enjoy this warm, peaceful, summer day.
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