I was walking on the sand
pebbles sweeping through my toes
hermits diving and ducking from my feet
they wash away inside the sand
And I saw my image in the water
rippled yet smooth
Like that, of myself, which I will one day be
I am not sure of the strength to which it came
I am only 10 years old
and in that moment I was 23

I hopped onto rocks
barefoot and happy
The waves got closer
but they never could catch me
They crashed against the biggest rock
And I saw my face on it's reflection
now older than before
subtlety disfigured yet perfectly happy
in seconds without delay
my pure existence on that rock
completely washed away

And I was the only one
to wash away with the water
I'm sure if I had my family there
We'd wash away together
But we can't all be at the same place and time
We can only wait
till our family chain re-aligns

I ran across the rocks
dodging waves and sharp edges
I sat next to my dad
it was the largest rock he sat on top
and our images reflected against the water
I hope the day his image is on a rock
I will be there too
And the day the waves crash over him
I will wash away with him too.

Learn more about this author, Sarah Peroni.
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