My Pretend Paradise

Lost

"Hey you there, you're not supposed be on the beach this late"

"Huh, Uh What"

"Oh playing dumb are we? That's fine you can come with me the young lady"

"Uh no no its fine, I'm sorry I came down here to go for a walk and lost track of time. I'll head back now"

"I don't know about that Missy, it's a bit late to be out for a walk don't you think"

"Oh yes I know I just had an argument with my parents and needed some air, I'm sure they will be looking for me"

"Alright miss I'll let you go this time just don't let it happen again"

"Don't worry it won't, thank you so much, good night"

Late? How is it late? It was sunset just a few moments ago. I knew we were weren't allowed near the ocean anymore but I didn't think we got completely cut off from the beach til nine. Whatever he's probably just being hyper vigilant I guess with all the protesters around. Just last week some protestors blew another hole in the wall. Guess he can't be too careful. That was most definitely a good swim very much worth the risk of being out so late. I was so lucky I made it back in time. I can't believe how quickly that wall had come up. Thank god I could swim fast. Now just to find that camp again. Why did dad always have to find the most obscure campsites, instead of just using the ones laid out for everyone? He made us traipse up and down the forest looking for the best spot. Which was ridiculous the entire forest was majestic I don't think it really mattered where we stayed.

"I found her dad she's down here"

"Alright I'm coming"

"Oh Rose thank god I found you, we were beginning to think you weren't coming back. Dad was really starting to worry. I told him you had probably just got lost and I was right. You idiot"

"I was not lost, I was just having a swim I've only been gone for half an hour"

"Rose its 10 o'clock you've been gone for four hours, you're lucky dad hasn't called the cops yet"

"What? No! I just got out of the water. It can't be that late, stop joking around Jas, it's not funny"

"I'm not kidding Rose, you really have been gone that long. Do you really only remember being in the water and getting out just now?"

"Yeah that's all that happened, nothing special or anything I went for a swim and made it back just before the wall went up"

"OK well that is super weird so maybe for dads sake just say you got lost"

"O-K"

"Oh Rose, Thank goodness I was so worried. It's so unlike you to get lost did something happen?"

"Uh no nothing sorry for making you worry dad, I guess I just lost my bearings and ended up walking in the wrong direction for a while, but it's alright I'm here now"

"Yes you are! Now c'mon girls' we've got an early morning ahead if we want to get you both back in time for school"

"Oh dad do we have to go back to tomorrow?"

"Yes Jas, you know you do"

"Yeah, c'mon Jas it's not that bad"

"You only say that because it's easy for you Rose"

"Whatever"

"C'mon girls don't start that now let's just get back to camp and go to bed"

Yay School starts back tomorrow and I'm not actually being sarcastic. I couldn't wait to see all my friends and start learning. It was sometimes the best thing that happened in a day. Now I know that makes me a nerd but I don't really care. I loved learning about ancient civilizations, math equations and how to write essays. I mean Jas was right it did come easy to me I had never had trouble with any of my school work but I think I would of liked it either way. I just loved figuring out how things worked. Now all I had to do was figure out what had happened to me in the last four hours. I don't know if I was more frightened by the prospect of never knowing what had happened or finding out the truth. I'm sure there is a simple explanation and it will come to me on a new day with some rest. I don't think I'd ever been so exhausted. My head hit the pillow and I was asleep.

A tsunami races toward the shore. A volcano erupts with lava to meet it. People in chains. People screaming. Children Crying. Bodies piled high. A hole in the ground. The bodies slowly disappear. Thousands of faces disappear. Someone cries. I am crying. Why are they dead? Why does nobody care? Now I am in the pile too.