Monday, March 1, 2010

Seaweed

by
Laura Eno
I remember the day you came into my life, wearing nothing but water and a smile. I blushed as I handed you my towel, there on the shoreline. I'd been lying in the sand, dreaming of the perfect man and there you stood. How foolish to think my desire would just walk into my life. To be fair, you often told me you could not stay even as you stole my heart. The months passed and I began to believe otherwise. You seemed to have a fondness for me; you tried to blend into my life and surroundings. One morning I awoke to an empty space, both of hearth and heart. I ran to the shoreline, the place where we first met. Your shoes sat in the sand, the only goodbye you could give me. I sometimes sit there next to those shoes, staring out to sea. At sunset, I think I see you skimming the water at horizon's edge. At other times, it's your laugh that floats along the breeze. No matter how long I keep vigil, you never come back. This lone reminder mocks me of unrequited love. If I walk out to greet you, will I become a Selkie too? Or will I perish in the depths, lost forever, my life over with no one to mourn me? It matters not, I think, for I've made my decision. I place my own shoes next to yours and walk out to join you.

29 comments:

D. D. said...

Laura,

What a beautiful expression of love this story is! It expresses to me the yearning in the human heart to take a chance on the impossibilities of love...

Laura Eno said...

Thank you, D.D.! What a lovely thing to say!

Carrie Clevenger said...

Wow, and nobody died. Great, moving flash here Laura. Congrats!

Eric J. Krause said...

Very well written, Laura. That was a beautiful story.

Laura Eno said...

Carrie - Well, not yet anyway. :) Thanks for reading!

Eric - Thank you! I appreciate you stopping by.

Marisa Birns said...

Beautiful and tender love story.

A toast to your excellent writing abilities!

Anne Tyler Lord said...

Laura, this is a beautiful poignant tale. It is poetically sad in it's yearning, yet hopeful and moving.

Aubrie said...

I love this story! And I love how the title eludes to it. Beautifully written.

Laura Eno said...

Marisa - Thanks! I appreciate the toast. :)

Anne - Thank you! I'm glad you found it poignant!

Aubrie - Thanks! Titles are hard for me so I'm glad this one worked.

Jan O'Hara (Tartitude) said...

Ooh, this is a definitely change of pace for you, Laura, but I love it. A lot of yearning captured in a small space.

You're da bomb when it comes to symbolism too, you know. Nice job.

Laura Eno said...

Hope - Thank you. :) What wonderful words!

EC said...

Yes, I was looking for the blood too, but nevertheless, I was not disappointed. A refreshing bit of another horror.

Laura Eno said...

Erin - Thank you. :) I'm glad you liked it!

peggy said...

This reads almost like poetry. Beeutiful phrases and sentiment.

Laura Eno said...

Peggy - Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Genevieve Jack said...

Your words drip with longing. The way she risks herself for the hope of true love is so human. Just beautiful.

Laura Eno said...

G.P. - Thank you! I'm glad it resonated with you.

Karen from Mentor said...

I'll second Peggy that it reads like poetry. But for me it was more like a song. A beautiful song of love and longing.
*happy sigh*

Love this soft side of you Laura.

Sheila Deeth said...

Beautiful evocative tale. I do so love the seaside, and this just flows with the ocean.

Laura Eno said...

Karen - Thanks! My soft side doesn't peek out often. :)

Sheila - Thank you! I love the ocean and that picture really spoke to me.

Mark Kerstetter said...

Your language is lovely here. I had to look up "selkie" though, then I understood that she wasn't giving up on life.

Laura Eno said...

Mark - But alas, she is human so I don't think she'll get very far in finding her selkie love...

Cat Russell said...

Lovely!

Laura Eno said...

ganymeder - Thank you!

Tony Noland said...

Touching and sweet, Laura. Beautiful and a bit spooky, too, so your reputation remains intact.

8-)

Hunter said...

Nice. I always appreciate the mingling of longing and darkness.

Laura Eno said...

Tony - I'm so glad my reputation remains untarnished! :)

Hunter - Thank you! I'm glad you liked it.

Joz Varlo said...

Laura;

What a sweet story with a great twist. A selkie! Ah, those darn water critters! Well, at least it wasn't a merman!! Great story.

Maria

Laura Eno said...

Maria - Thanks! Yes, water critters are quite pesky, aren't they? :)