Gulls

The soft hum of the truck was not enough to drown out Oliver's thoughts. The scenario played over and over again in his head, the words burned into his mind, arguing with his mother about his future and his life. He couldn’t figure out if he meant the hateful things he had said. Some time passed before his clouded thoughts drifted off. He found himself driving far away from the urban area he had fled from. He arrived near the coast, at a small beach hidden amongst forested cliffs, isolated from prying eyes and and away from any towns, shops or homes. Oliver dug his toes into the warm, smooth sand and observed the area. Gentle foaming waves pounded the shore. Bright blue water extended past the horizon. In the company of his dog, Apollo, he ventured further along the beach. Tide Pools filled the dark porous rocks that dotted the coast. As he tried to climb them, he stepped on a rough stone and let out a shriek of pain before furiously hurling it into the water. He couldn’t get the fight out of his mind, it made his head pound with guilt and anger. Apollo came to comfort him before wandering off up a hill, Oliver followed.

They climbed up the rocky slope covered in trees and full of shrubs and grasses. Oliver pushed back the branches before him to reveal a beautiful cove, aquamarine water was surrounded by towering crescent cliffs, covered in lush green forest. The sky was filled with feeding seagulls, their cawing and chirping seemed to overwhelm any other sounds besides the crashing of waves. The salty breeze felt as if it was sweeping him away. He looked down, his toes nearly on the edge of the cliff over what was probably a fifty foot drop. Something about the water below was alluring, inviting even. It seemed so peaceful and consistent, something that seemed foreign at the time.

Before he knew it, Oliver was falling, the cold air rushed around his body. When he hit the cold water he was taken by shock. He opened his eyes underwater in the cool ocean current. He couldn’t believe it. All around him was gorgeous marine life, corals, fish, crustaceans, seaweed, anemones. Streams of sunlight twinkled through the water, illuminating the reefs residents. All of the life seemed to flow with each other. Like some harmonious cycle, swaying with the waters current, not fighting it. Now the only sound that filled his head was burbling and rushing of water. He closed his eyes and just floated in the current for a moment taking in the feeling. When he opened them he noticed a bright fish swimming around him, studying him, probably wondering of his intent. He was lost in amazement

A moment later he noticed that his lungs started to sting, it felt like they were burning. He was so lost and yet at peace that he forgot to breathe. Oliver rushed to the surface, panting for air. Once he calmed down he noticed the fish jump out of the water too, its scales glittering in the sunlight, just as it jumped Oliver heard a seagull call and saw it swoop down, snatching the fish up in its beak. The seagull flew up onto a perch with its nest and regurgitated the fish into the desperately chirping chicks mouth. He noticed the work the seagull did for its young, it reminded him of his mother. He thought that maybe the pain he felt was just part of life, that maybe it was necessary, like a fish's life for a seagulls. He eventually returned home and confronted his mother, asking for forgiveness for his actions and giving her a reassuring hug, hoping that he could learn to follow the current.