a great body of water
stands before me
my feet cut by shards of broken shells

disparate water particles
infinitely tinny droplets
moving in waves over me

nubilous skies speak of storms
i stretch my arms out
embracing the water and the sky

the kiss of this mist lulls me
a kind of security
straying from reality

i have been here for hours
my body begins to ache
from the strain of my embrace

i falter and shiver
i fall on my hands and knees
my embrace was not reciprocated

the blood flows
from my knees and toes and palms
mixing with the salty water of the sound

the stiff crisp air touches
the back of the inside of my skull
my head fills with briny mists

my eyes roll back in my head
i claim the right to be unhappy
i claim the right to pain

the sky and the mist and the ocean
are not my equals
but i am not their servant

soon my mother finds me
holds this tiny crying child
and draws me inside

protecting me from the oncoming storm
protecting me from love
protecting me from hurt

as she carries me
my eyes turn back to
the beach the sky the ocean

i did not ask to be saved from any of this.