The archive of the forgotten

the sea and me

I wake up everyday and ask myself if I should've bought a new house. It has been half a year but it feels like I just woke up from the same hangover. I stand up at put on a baggy blouse and fashionable trousers. I try to ignore the look of the sea from the incredibly big window and tie up my long blonde hair, my tan has subsided since I stopped surfing. I look at the waves through the window and conclude it would be great surfing weather. I grab my longboard and descend the stairs, passing the pictures and prizes of the life I desire. I grab my keys and look at the necklace hanging next to it, the blue beads are interrupted by shark teeth and surf icons, in the middle there's a beautiful frangipani trapped in glass. I hesitate but I grab it and put it on.

I put on my aviators and begin to skate. The salty wind through my hair is familiar but not as exhilarating. I skate along lush greenery and flowers to Playa Dominical. The bustling sounds of life overwhelmingly happy on a bright summers day. I arrive at the beach and pick up my skateboard. I sigh and take off my shoes and let the warm sand dig into my skin with its unhealthy heat. I walk onto the beach, but I don't go near the sea. I hide underneath the palms and the other The wind blows through my hair and the salty tears are blown away into raindrops. I stare at the ground, trying to ignore the surfers on the beautiful waves. "O my god! Are you Pelagios Cormorant?" A young voice says. I look up, a young surfer is waxing his board and looking at me, expecting an answer. I nod and smile "Yeah, that's me." "Hey man I understand you want to be left alone of course but man! I am such a fan!" I smile and nod proudly but I wish this conversation was over. "That's very kind." I say with a smile. "Kind?! You are a legend man! Youngest world champion! And eight world titles! your aerials and Gorkin flip are simply elegant! I don't understand! You are fucking amazing! The simple fact you are a switch-foot is...." I laugh and shake my head. "Come on man, calm down, I just worked very hard! Seriously, I think there are many people with tremendous potential including you! And if we are talking about favourite tricks I will have to go with a layback." I say with a smile. "I could sign your board if you want to, and after that you should get back in the water. There's a bomb coming." I say with a smile as he gives me a waterproof marker." "Would you like to party wave with us?" He asks while I walk away. I turn around and smile while shaking my head. "Sorry don't have the gear today but perhaps another time!" I turn around, a little white lie cannot hurt anyone can it?

I enter the hair salon. "Hey Gus! How are you?" My friend JJ (his name is Jacques Jones, and that sounds.....rather absurd. (simple explanation, French mum tragically American dad)) says. "I am quite alright, tell me, how could you make me look the least like myself?" he looks at me and frown. "What???!" He wipes his balayage dirty blonde hair out of his face and takes off his yellow tinted hippie glasses to look at me. "You....the one who has refused to let me cut your hair more than one centimetre for about ten years wants....to look different? What have you done? Committed a murder?" "Oh no, than you would've helped me dispose of the body already." I joke but I do not feel the joy my face reflects. JJ puts his scissors down and looks at me with a frown. "Darling Excuse me is it alright is Marlene cuts you, I need to help a friend." The girl nods modestly and JJ walks up to me and looks at me. His normally whimsical face has turned serious and maybe even suspicious. He brings me to the back of the salon and closes the door. "What the actual fuck Gus....." He says with a concerned look. "What?" I say with a smile. "You never change your appearance..... We even joke about that." I shrug. "I'm trying something new." He wipes away his curtain bangs and shakes his wavy hair, "Are you crazy?" he asks, I stare at his vintage 80's clothes. "I think people will be more likely to wonder that about you." "Are you sure about this?" I nod, but to be honest I am not even a bit. "Are you okay?" He asks while putting a hand on my shoulder. I nod but I think we can both agree I am not.

"Alrighty." He says while smiling. I sit down in the chair and don't look in the mirror, I hate looking in the mirror, it feels like I can no longer see myself. It feels as if there is a painting from somebody else hanging in front of me, so why would I not change myself? "I am going to do a blueish black for you, it'll match your skins undertone better than a greyish black. I will also cut it short. Are you alright with that?" "You have free reign JJ" I say with a smile. He nods and starts to cut. "So are you competing this season?" I sigh and shake my head. He looks at me. "It wasn't your fault you know?" I look down..... He puts down his scissors and gives me a hug. "it wasn't you fault. You still deserve to be happy." I do not know how to respond. I don't understand why he knows me too well....