patience is key | the karate kid

iv. there in my mind

iv. there in my mind

"RISE UP, Kathleen-san. Slowly."

"Mr-Mr. Miyagi–"

"Do not waver. Must stand still." Mr. Miyagi instructs, resting his calloused hands lightly on the girl's tensed shoulders. Kat flinches at first and then eases.

    "Relax. Breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. Remember?"

    Kathleen gulps and silently nods while still moving from side to side — the morning breeze blowing harder and harder. She feels Mr. Miyagi's fingers grip tighter on her shoulders, causing her to wince.

"You are tense. Relax." He reminds her.

Nodding again, Kathleen tries clearing out her cluttered mind by listening to the calming waves that splash upon the sandy shore, instead of her own thoughts.

     She hears the cries of seagulls swooping in and out of the beautiful, oceanic scene she pictures.

     And, as cheesy as it sounds, she pictures her and Daniel on the beach, watching the sunrise. Their hands in the warm sand, only inches away from each other. His dark brown eyes are gazing at her softly. And his gorgeous smile, smiling down at her with those dark baby browns—

"Now open eyes."

As instructed, Kat's dazzling blue eyes flutter open, watching the sun beginning to peak above the horizon line on the ocean.

Its beautiful, contrasting colors brightly present themselves across the entire sky. Kat's eyes grow large and her mouth hangs agape in awe at the sight of it.

    She cannot describe how beautiful it truly is — out of all the times she has gotten up early, not once has she seen such a marvelous sunrise as the one she's experiencing right then and there.

    It almost seems unreal.

    Everything she had been imagining is right there in front of her. Besides Daniel — which now, her cheeks turn pink at the scenario.

"Beautiful, yes?" Mr. Miyagi's words bring Kat back into reality. Kat's eyes don't move from the breath-taking view, but her head nods.

    She doesn't even notice that she had been standing and balancing herself on only one foot.

"Lesson is done for today." He says, turning to leave and make his way back up the sandy hill to where the truck is parked. "See you tomorrow."

    Kat furrows her eyebrows and watches behind her shoulder. She jumps off of the stump and runs to catch up with him.

"But Mr. Miyagi," Kat sounds even more confused, "we only just got here, why are you leaving?"

"Last day of summer, right?" He asks, sliding into the truck. He gives Kat a kind smile. "Must enjoy and have fun."

Her eyes squint as the sun begins to beam right towards her. "But Mr. Miyagi, you can't drive–"

    "Sure I can, Kathleen-san," he chuckles, starting the truck. "There is more than what meets eye."

    Kat sighs and is defeated by the man once again. She doesn't really feel like spending the whole day at the beach — it's either that or walking back home. Which, by the way, took an hour or so just to do so.