Within Her Crystal Blues

Flood Tale

      "Hey!" Jean calls out to you through the crowd. You wave back as they approach you with two cups of coffee to go cups. "Here," they handed you one of them. "I didn't know what you'd like so I went for two hot chocolates with extra whip cream of that's okay." You nod and smile as both begin to head away from the crowd.
      You and Jean end up walking on a familiar pathway they love. Neither of you speak at first until a bridge appears. Jean begins to slow down and stare at the bridge while you glance between it and them. After a few moments of silence, Jean breaks the it with a question for you but never breaks away their eyes from the bridge ahead.

"You wanna hear something? I've told many people before and yet no one can understand the concept of this." Curiosity fills you even though you are hesitant, you nod, this encourages them to continue with their tale. "A few years ago, I should've died." They stated so bluntly, as if this was just a common fact to be known about them.

"Really?" You question, they nod with a distant look in their eyes.

"Yes, some years ago there was a terrible flood that swept my hometown. That bridge ahead of us," they nod towards the bridge, "That's where I should've drown. You know how? That flood was well past the edge of it. I was still pretty young and my family was known for playing the creek during the flood. My sister, brother, and a large group of all of our friends came out here during that time. We were playing around , having fun. That is... Until I go closer to the other side of the bridge were there's a small drop to the creekbed. I had forgotten all about it from all the fun I was having. I took a step forward and was sent under. The current was too strong for me to fight. I should've drown, ya know?"

"What happened?" You asked intrigued to know the ending and the reasoning behind this random tale. Smiling with fondness, Jean answers you.

"One of my sister's guy friends jumped in after me. He saved my life in an exchange for his hat that he had been wearing. Had he not... I wouldn't be here telling you this story. Wanna know why I told you this?" You nod your head rapidly yes, wanting to know why. "Because, we take life for granted. No one can fight that they don't. Not anymore really. I mean look around you. How many people do you know that just go about their day, wasting time and never stopping to smell the roses? For find ways to better someone else's day without expecting something in return? Not very many huh?" You nodded sadly for this is true in the world we live in.

"I told you this story in hopes that you understand that life is not something to bet on. It's not something to waste. We only live once, so live it to the fullest. Because you never know when it'll be taken from you. I didn't know that as a kid, but now I do. Love deeper. Live sweeter. Play harder. Smile and laugh more. Just don't take your life for granted. I got luck enough to have a second chance at life when I was younger. But understand... Not everyone's that lucky and even if you are... Everyone's luck runs out at some point..."

They glance at you with a smile and shining blue eyes then ask, "You see what I mean?"