The day I visited the sea was the day I was reborn.
Inching trepidatiously towards the lapping waves, I felt the water drawing me closer.
Come, it chanted.
The deep, warm orange of the sun peeked its head out through clouds shyly, inviting me to capture it. I pulled out my life-line and aimed it up towards the sky, ready to pull the trigger and take the shot.
But my body froze as I felt a hand slinking up my leg, dragging me further down. Pure, blue water made its way up my arm, creeping closer and closer to my life-line.
And suddenly, I lost it.
That brick in my hand, my life-line, lost all meaning. It shuddered and choked in my arms, flashing brightly with distress. 3 dots, 3 dashes, 3 dots. I watched as the sea slowly dragged it away, almost tauntingly. Salty, sticky water prickled in my eyes and dragged down my face. That, too, got taken by the sea. I sobbed until I was gasping for breath and my eyes longed for moisture.
And as the last tear pulled itself from my eye, my mind became quiet.
All the noise died down, and I could only hear the whispers of the sea.
“Come, live.” the whispers wrapped themselves around my head and enveloped me, fully. Standing there, with a bubble around my body, I finally started to see.
A bird dashing across the sand, followed by its mother as they played. Crabs dancing freely in clusters. The shells lulling back and forth in the water, clinking gently against each other.
I felt my shoulders relax as I walked into the sea. Further, and further. Bursts of colour revealed themselves to me, and I felt my nose fill with the sweet water.
And finally, I could breathe again.