Haddasah is trying to swim ashore after her sail boat capsized. She is floundering about and ends up swimming in circles. Her heart is weary from always being placed under high alert. It doesn’t know what to do anymore. The tide is rising  and the fiery ball in the orange sky above is fast sinking into the horizon. Daylight is ebbing away much like an old man at sea about to inhale his last breath. Her honey hued eyes are wild as she peers into the four directions. No helps is coming from the north,south ,east or west. She treads the salty water as her athletic , tanned legs tremble under neath from sheer exhaustion. She wonders what it would be like to just sink down effortlessly to the bottom of the Pacific; to never see day light again. Would she miss it? Would she be missed? A flock of seagulls flies over head causing her to focus  on something other than her muddled thoughts. Her stomach rumbles like Mount Vesuvius. Her long, slender, olive tanned arms are turning a light red. What happens now?

Suddenly from afar, Haddasah hears a loud horn and she is thrown wide awake. There are ear piercing  sirens all around her. The flashing red and blue lights hurt her eyes  as she lies on a patch of dewy grass. A tall EMT woman with  blond hair tied in a pony tail  is administering CPR. Haddasah catches a whiff of her minty breath and body spray which remind her of Chanel No 5. Haddasah slips out of consciousness and she’s back  swimming again in that blue , chilly ocean water for God only knows how long.

Eva Santiago Copyright 2015