Alexis Kane - The Beach
Hey y'all. I wrote a quick short story. It's open to everyone for comment and feedback. Anything said would be greatly appreciated.
Millions of indistinguishable pebbles grinded away at the soles of Alexis Kane's barefeet. Her eyes were focused on the rush of the incoming tide as it dashed towards the unsuspecting families. It would temporarily relieve them of their anxieties by tickling their senses and whisking away any nerves to undiscovered places. Unfortunately, such relief was for swimmers and Alexis Kane could not ever swim.
The tide kept coming and worked itself between her toes. Alexis dug deeper into the unstable ground, looking for any form of traction and stability. Men, not some far away satellite that hung in the night sky, were supposed to do the sweeping that caused women to lose their footing.
Alexis retreated, feeling the saggy mud between her toes. Now, they felt like a gigantic wedge rather than actual separate entities with their own joints. The mud just dragged her down, forcing a hasty retreat backwards.
After taking a step back, Alexis's eyes honed in on a little girl playing on the beach. She was enjoying the folly of building a sandcastle near the tide. The castle was nearly complete. Apparently, the girl did not see the lack of purpose in the activity. Despite the elegant craftsmanship, it would be eliminated by the encroaching tide before anyone could enjoy it. Not even the mini-moat the girl had installed was enough to stop the tide. Alexis watched it fall away and the frustrated little girl run back to her family.
Mother and Brother were Father in the sand in a loving ritual. The girl tried to join in but the brother interrupted. "No. No. You're doing it all wrong, Lexi. You should stick with playing with dolls." Mother scolded Brother but they were meaningless words in an empty heart. Lexi had tried again, but Brother knocked away her work and quickly began to correct it. Tired, Lexi gave up.
Alexis turned away from the typical family and saw another tide crash against a beautiful cliff in the distance. The tide's disappearance exposed all the eyesores that lay underneath. The black, gargantuan lava rocks lined the whole underside of the cliff. No one dared approach those rocks, which were the remnants of the many explosions that occurred there years ago.
At last, the man approached. He was the whole reason she was here. Alexis was no good at counting the night stars or passing time, waiting for something to happen. He had a pearly white smile, and a body that rivaled Michelangelo's David. Yet, something still unsettled her. Was he just an idyllic fantasy, like a beach, or was he a man who could finally help her swim into uncharted waters? Was it safe to try without a life preserver?
He approached and said her name. She smiled and looked into his eyes for the first time. That would make it appear like she hadn't noticed him at all yet. His muscular arms pulled her into a friendly embrace and she returned the hug. They released, and he introduced himself more formally. Still her tension did not fade.
Alexis Kane had a decision to make.
Millions of indistinguishable pebbles grinded away at the soles of Alexis Kane's barefeet. Her eyes were focused on the rush of the incoming tide as it dashed towards the unsuspecting families. It would temporarily relieve them of their anxieties by tickling their senses and whisking away any nerves to undiscovered places. Unfortunately, such relief was for swimmers and Alexis Kane could not ever swim.
The tide kept coming and worked itself between her toes. Alexis dug deeper into the unstable ground, looking for any form of traction and stability. Men, not some far away satellite that hung in the night sky, were supposed to do the sweeping that caused women to lose their footing.
Alexis retreated, feeling the saggy mud between her toes. Now, they felt like a gigantic wedge rather than actual separate entities with their own joints. The mud just dragged her down, forcing a hasty retreat backwards.
After taking a step back, Alexis's eyes honed in on a little girl playing on the beach. She was enjoying the folly of building a sandcastle near the tide. The castle was nearly complete. Apparently, the girl did not see the lack of purpose in the activity. Despite the elegant craftsmanship, it would be eliminated by the encroaching tide before anyone could enjoy it. Not even the mini-moat the girl had installed was enough to stop the tide. Alexis watched it fall away and the frustrated little girl run back to her family.
Mother and Brother were Father in the sand in a loving ritual. The girl tried to join in but the brother interrupted. "No. No. You're doing it all wrong, Lexi. You should stick with playing with dolls." Mother scolded Brother but they were meaningless words in an empty heart. Lexi had tried again, but Brother knocked away her work and quickly began to correct it. Tired, Lexi gave up.
Alexis turned away from the typical family and saw another tide crash against a beautiful cliff in the distance. The tide's disappearance exposed all the eyesores that lay underneath. The black, gargantuan lava rocks lined the whole underside of the cliff. No one dared approach those rocks, which were the remnants of the many explosions that occurred there years ago.
At last, the man approached. He was the whole reason she was here. Alexis was no good at counting the night stars or passing time, waiting for something to happen. He had a pearly white smile, and a body that rivaled Michelangelo's David. Yet, something still unsettled her. Was he just an idyllic fantasy, like a beach, or was he a man who could finally help her swim into uncharted waters? Was it safe to try without a life preserver?
He approached and said her name. She smiled and looked into his eyes for the first time. That would make it appear like she hadn't noticed him at all yet. His muscular arms pulled her into a friendly embrace and she returned the hug. They released, and he introduced himself more formally. Still her tension did not fade.
Alexis Kane had a decision to make.