Water can be life and water can be death. Until a ship, a supposed of sailing— drown you in the abyss of seagulls. I know, I have seen it. The sun tickling in the face, sweat dripping from your body, always enough to make you dehydrated in the summer heat but the rush of joy, when it lights up your body— it's exhilarating in a way. Last summer brought everything in impeccable timing, I can't forget it in my life.

    It was in mid July, I got a few days off from my work. Everything was packed, the trip was arranged in a rush, it should have worked out until Katey bailed out on me.

    Yippee! So much for a fun trip, I was gonna be in a lone adventure but I remembered — Alex! His family's in another state, knowing him— I knew how he's gonna spend the entire time in bed.

    Not gonna happen, even though we're not that much close, I eventually bugged him to come along. Maybe who knows it can change everything and it did. 

***

      First few days are bizarre, with the sun rays and radiant glow— occasionally wind blows up. Calm, beautiful and blue sky.

    I've always liked this season as it starts with the warmth of deep emotional smiles yet an oppression that turns out as rage, inferno, chaotic and wild. And I always like wild adventures and exploring nature.

    We had fun in the first few days. We hiked in the mountain hills, a top view from so high— you can admire the crimson trace in the tides of the end of sky, as always Alex has been a silent audience there too.

     Usually, he only shares one/two words except working. Magma red light is glowing in his black skin now. Then, we went out to surf in the water— for the first time I did see another side of him———

     "Water can be death, water can be life, do you know what's paradise? The seashells beneath the water, you can see it in crystal eyes, glistening with a bright side."

     We're surfing with the waves now. Whoa! The occasional scream from the other fellows could be heard, maybe terror or extreme adrenaline rush.

     "Do you know waves are like tornadoes?" Alex yelled. He's surfacing with me.

     "Of course! It can be taken out as a calm, slurry mind to wild, chaotic bees — arching, wheeling around!" I yelled back.

       He laughed aloud!

    We're fully engaged with the flow. Just like life, never know what's coming next but a little adrenaline rush never hurts.

   Everything's going fine until one day. . . .

***

    Sometimes, summer brings bitter taste too. The nights were falling into one another and days were getting longer. The night's heating with the aftermath. And we lost our way on that day. The clouds were latching in the unending sky and we're loiterers in the green land. In the jungle of mobs, running here and there — it's a futile attempt of finding a path in the middle of a wooden flank.

     "Told ya! It was risky, now we're lost in the jungle now. Hunting is never fun!" Alex said with a sombre expression.

     "Likewise I knew we would be lost, right? We totally got wiped out with the floating coffin, only grass with fatal deadly insects," I stomped my feet to feel anything. Keep going!"

     "Heck! We didn't even bring our phones. The infinity bees are buzzed. I reckon, they're not even waiting anymore. We gotta spend the night here," he propelled.

      I know, our partners of this hunting adventure mayhaps snoring in the fluffy bed now. I grimaced with that. The garlic smells are fitting in the air, slowly neon sky, flare up with the crescent moon. Perhaps it's not that bad. "I'm sorry, you got stuck with me here," I plopped down in the muddy ground.

     "It's fine, if we arrange some woods and light up a fire here; we can spend the night unless some creepy nature decides to take you up as dinner," he smirked.

    It's the first time I was seeing Alex without a stoic built wall. "Ha-ha! Very funny!"

     If it were me, who thought snapping wildlife is cool, Oh man! I was definitely wrong, I should be held responsible for losing the way. Alex is supposed to avoid it.

     Finally, he got some woods to fire up. It's fascinating to see a lean man trying hard to get flames through stones. After laughing and shaking, we finally made it up.

      Alex finally tinted off his floral shirt, now sitting half across.

     "Tell me something about you, Alex. You always stay mysterious," I asked him while leaning in the tree branches.

     "Why don't I tell a tale to you?"

     He didn't seem to wait, but I nodded anyway.

     "Water, water everywhere but not a tiny drop of drink or sometimes a whole gallon to gulf you down. For my grandparents, the sea was always a paradise. In the down of the world, a better place— where words get changed through sounds of shores, and waves paving with each other. They were no different though.

       They dribbled, whisked, wished for the sea— for life — confined depth is always treasured. Maybe there is, there's another life, seeking out for you. Sometimes, they used to surf, sometimes swim but slipping out was never an option. For them, it's like a hand in hand— a child's care with the sands, heating their feet.

      Until their steel grip finally broke into the thin surface like ghouls. Long after they had my dad, they sought for another journey. No tides, no wind on the surface — it's terrifying — how much we need those things yet they can be fatal too.

       Suddenly it fits out in a raging ball. Winds are needed for dictating movements in the sea. But the quick slaps of wind was putting them through elf night of sea crests. Leaving the sea was like a curse for them, like a winter bidding off with a churning harsh cold. They're not ready to do it.

       Occasionally, the slurping sea was muted, but the sea was in its own beat of master. The echoes of the rambling sea came out with tremulous fear. My grandfather tried his best to control the ship, but as every ship is wrecked in the sea— it's the time of fall too. When he thought, it was unstoppable — the only words were uttered, how much they both love the sea and finally whipped to its frenzy.

       The wind died there, malicious souls stirred. Ironic is how they didn't leave each other's side on the rapping, awful rage. Hands in hand, sleeping together at the end of merging wet ground. The sea swelled once more but not in rage, a jarring stillness of love.

       I don't like adventures anymore, too many moments to kill— I feel like I have been stabbed with a million spears, it's vague to put in efforts in nature," he added with a heavy sigh.

     "This is where we start, we must return." Bees were still murmuring ancient words. A broth of smell swirled around me. A shadow, lurking in the tree lapse, caught my attention. I nudged Alex, he noticed it too.

       Before thinking twice, we sprinted off there. The howling sound was vigilant. Who knows, what stories were lying there in the grasping of meadow smells?

       And I wasn't ready to sacrifice myself in the tree flames. Their hushed whispers were getting louder but we kept running until we ran out of breath.

       Suddenly, we halted in front of a lake. The glimmering moon was reflective in the water. It was like a teardrop silver colour. Unruffled by wind or something, it was still. And I noticed the sounds stopped too, our hands together. Alex seemed to be unfazed by it but didn't take off his hand. 

       While the water was gilded with moon-lilies, the stars twinkled like white diamonds, I understood one thing by looking at our hands— it's a long adventure, it wouldn't fade away in the water's edges and it didn't.

     Because.  .  .

     "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us."

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Written for the contest by Romance— "A love story which ends by the opening line from literature."
It begins at the end!