Hidden in the sand

(𝟏) 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐤

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Soft sky above, and sharp stones underfoot. The clouds caressed the sky with reflected light and the oceans shore lie jaggedly against the rocks.

The calm push and pull of the waves were the only sound filling the air apart from his footsteps of course. Each step crunched against the ground, pushing aside small rocks and bits of sand.

He had no destination in mind, just simply walking without purpose.

His mind has been plagued, too many thoughts with too little time left him feeling overworked, tired, depressed even.

Of course he knew why he felt that way, but it was a reality he didn't want to face at the moment.

Ombre hues traveled across the scenery settling on a long structure stretching out across the water, the waves licked at the beams supporting it, tempting the structure to fall being swallowed up by the liquid below.

Trailing towards it he ran a hand over the withered railing, the surface of which remained rough- small bits of it stuck up in odd angles threatening to break through the skin of his hand.

A long breath left his painted lips, the man continuing on towards the end of the structure where the railing abruptly stopped, a now open ended area tempted him towards the edge. Although not enough so he'd do anything drastic.

The thought was just there, in the back of his mind.

Groaning softly he'd kneeled down, throwing his legs over the exposed side, letting them dangle off. The waves from below once again nipped towards the docks support beams while he just ignored them, hands folded on top of his lap and eyes staring ahead.

There was still too much on his mind. Too much to mull over and too draining.

A cooling wind blew by weaving through pale strands of hair before disappearing almost as quickly as they came, the presence of something else now in its place.

"Excuse me. Do you mind if I sit?" His attention was moved back, eyes lingering on the form of a girl. Her hand was outstretched pointing towards a section of the doc beside him.

"Yes."

An 'oh' quickly left her lips and her eyes trailed towards a section farther away from the man, "What about there?" Her hand now gestured off towards a different section and he couldn't help but release a sigh.

Couldn't he mope alone?

"Do whatever." His tone of voice clearly lacked any form of enthusiasm, simply being a low grumble if anything. He'd rather be alone than have some random person's company, the only reason he responded in the way he did was because this could've been some sort of comfort spot of her own.

He hadn't heard her steps after all.

Sparing a glance towards where she was, he watched her lower down onto the side of the dock, legs hanging off the edge much like his own, although she'd taken to remove her shoes placing them beside her.

Her eyes remained trained forward along the horizon much like his own were before and a thoughtful look took over her features.

Perhaps he shouldn't stare.

Tearing his gaze away and focusing back onto the water his ears picked up the sound of splashing, catching the surface of the water ripple from a disturbance. That disturbance being small rocks of the like being tossed in, the items also resonating from the girl.

The action wasn't nearly as annoying as he thought it would be, each splash of the pebble seemed calming almost.

Feeling as though his mind had cleared since he'd sat down the man raised to his feet brushing away any bits of sand that'd been blown onto him by the wind.

Turning in place to begin walking off he paused hearing the girls voice speak up, "Be careful with the third step, it's on it's last limb." Turning his head back towards where she sat he could see her attention still focused intently ahead.

Her warning definitely let him know that she'd been here before, enough so to remember which step was breaking.