Tides
The sea saw her one night as he shifted and played with the sand along the shore.
He caught her reflection in the water, swimming back toward the light that reached even the deepest, darkest places.
Watching the glow, he wondered if he could touch it—but every time he reached out, his hand vanished.
Following the light, he rose to the surface and walked upon it until he saw its source.
On a night of a full moon, he looked up and watched her brightness shine across the water.
The sea stirred itself to keep the reflection trapped within its waves, to hold on to a little of her light—just in case she was gone.
But he couldn’t touch it. He couldn’t keep it. So he stared at the moon instead, memorizing the details—the curves, the dimples.
That night, the sea rose as high as it could, reaching for her, but she remained bright and distant in the sky.
The next night, he looked again. She was there—but something was missing. The sea rose once more, searching itself to fill what was gone. Before he realized it, morning came, and she disappeared.
The night after, she smiled. Her reflection showed it, and there she was in the center of the sky—a smile.
It lasted for a few nights. Then one night, she was gone.
The sea did not rise that night. He only watched, pacing back and forth where her reflection usually danced.
The sea returned to its routine, but it felt hollow, tasteless, pointless. The night ended, but it meant nothing to him.
The next night, she smiled again. Carefully, playfully, the sea rose—afraid to do anything that might break it.
This continued for several nights, until she appeared whole again, brighter than ever. The sea rose with all his strength to reach her—but it still wasn’t enough.
So he played with her reflection, and for a moment, as he passed beneath it, he vanished. Under the moon’s light, the sea lost itself.
The next night, he searched again for what was missing, never finding it, and finally understanding it was all part of the dance.
After that night, she smiled, and he played. Then the next night, she was gone again.
So the sea rose when she was there and fell when she was not.
And to this day—old as the sea now is—he is still trying.
And it is all worth it, even if he never reaches her,
because he sees her smile.
