Soul Searching

II

Listen to: Summer by Calvin Harris

Picture: Main Character's Soul Inking (Him)

My inking is like my yearning. To travel the globe.

It rests on my inner elbow, almost hidden when I wear a long sleeved shirt. But my longing for travelling the world is not affected at all. It simply curls up to sleep like a faithful hound, at the base of my mind, building up slowly over time, until it consumes me.

Heck, even my name, Reiser, means traveller. And the furthest I've gone from home is probably the grocery store, a few towns away. Or the camp that was conducted at the river bank beside school. I've always been tethered to home, and I want to see the world.

And this time, on my twentieth birthday, I'm going to change that. Saving up ages ago to buy plane tickets, convincing my parents that I'm old enough to see the world, preparing days before, I've boarded a plane to go to the other side of the world, California.

~

I step out of the airport, in awe at the sheer amount of people. There are people everywhere. Milling around small cafes, sipping smoothies in open roofed cars. Lounging in skimpy clothing or just having plain fun.

I grin, feeling the warm sun caress my face.

After I took a cab to my hotel, I book a room. The lady, who has a green mouse inking on her neck, smiles welcomingly and I relax, feeling at ease.

I lie on the soft bed, thinking of my parents at home. Will they be on the farm, doing chores trying not to think about their boy, who has just flown across the world, alone? They would want me to be happy, enjoy this short three day trip.

I sit up in bed, remembering my purpose. To explore. Pulling out my creased map that is covered in pizza grease , I sigh, using a red marker to circle landmarks. I would definitely be going to see the Golden Gate Bridge, but there was one thing I was aiming to visit, even if I had to pay a bomb for: a swim at a nearby beach.

Pulling on board shorts and a simple singlet, I wear my shades and trek down to the sandy coast. Asking for directions brings me to a long beach.

 Cerulean waves lap lazily against the soft powdery sand, multi-coloured umbrellas sway in the breeze, people dashing to and fro, frolicking among the waves. I breathe in the salty air, feeling the wind whip through my sandy hair.

I run towards the beach, feeling sand in my toes, grabbing my slippers with one hand. I laugh as the waves wash over my feet and I walk into the cool water, excited.

I decide to swim in the water, loving the water's embrace. Swimming in the small river next to the school is nothing like this slow moving body of ocean.

I course through the waves, a thrill running through my body. I decide to walk along the coast, watching the people enjoy themselves, devoid of any stress.

Feeling slightly warm, I head to an ice cream truck to purchase ice cream to cool my parched throat. Ironic that I had just swum in water, but was feeling thirsty.

Pulling out some money from the water proof bag I had brought along, I paid for my chocolate ice cream. Triumphantly holding my ice cream, I lick it, savouring every small taste. Wanting it to last as long as possible, I take a stroll and eat it slowly.

Walking along a popular biking path, I devour my ice cream.

Suddenly, a huge weight slams into me, making me fall, effectively throwing all that's left of my ice cream into the bushes. A bike lies a few feet away from me, it's wheels still revolving.

A dark skinned figure lies on the floor, trying to lift it. I'm annoyed, frustrated even. I had enjoyed it! I got up to scream at the irresponsible person, when I noticed the glowing globe inking winking up at me, even covered in water droplets, it shone, bright and true.

I looed at the person, and gasped. A beautiful, petite light brown skinned girl stands in front of me, globe inking on her arm shining.

She looks devastated. She looked up at me, "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to knock you down!"

I grin, "It's alright. I'm Reiser." She smiled, then noticed the now fading glow of her inking, "Oh."

I nodded, "Yep." She looks up at me, happiness flashing in her chocolate brown eyes. "I'm Mishael,  I'm from Peru." I helped her lift her rental bike, going back to the ice cream shop, buying two more cones of chocolate ice cream. We eat our cones in glee, chatting about our homes, so different from each other.

Mishael laughs as I tell her funny antics that I did to get me here, in America.

She tells me in her lovely lilting voice," Something tells me we're going to be doing a lot of travelling, Reiser."