The Survival of Two

Pebbles

Osha took in the dull grey beach that lay ahead of her; the rocks were rounded and worn smooth from years of being battered by the tide, and plumes of silvery mist rose from the breaking waves. She felt the saltwater in the breeze clinging to her clothes and dampening her hair. She shifted her weight on their gritty surface and crossed her legs beneath her. She exhaled, trying to bring her consciousness into the world around her—trying to pinpoint the exact moment her breath was no longer her own. The moment it was claimed by the swirling breeze and corrosive salt air. She pressed her palms into the pebbled surface of the beach. Rolling them along the ground, she matched their shades and grit to the boulders nearby. Had they broken off of the large monuments and been stolen away by the tide, or were they all that remained of once great stones? She turned her gaze to the unyielding force that had carved the imposing landscape: around her, the dark sea roared and churned, reflecting the burning sun into her eyes. She blinked, wishing the cruel light would fade. Still, she sat—sea spray and harsh sun stinging her eyes. The beach maintained its natural state of chaos; it whirled around her unshifting form, loud and unrestrained–almost defiant.

Upon waking that morning, Osha had crept to the water's edge to think. She had imagined walking towards the rolling foam and grieving—letting the surf steal her tears away into its depths. But now, staring into the distance, she could focus on nothing but the unforgiving rocks beneath her. Her mind was barren and clouded with shadow, and her feet grew numb from sitting cross-legged on the cool beach. Still, she sat. Willing her mind to clear, she drew her hands into fists and leaned forward, observing the stones she'd gathered in her palms. Standing, she nudged off her shoes and walked tentatively into the frothy sea. The water enveloped her, swirling around her ankles and replacing the pins and needles in her feet with a new icy pain. One by one she began to drop the pebbles, closing her eyes as they sunk into the surf. Soon, their rhythmic plops mixed with the gentle sound of footfalls.