2nd
place at the Kern County Fair again this year. One day I'm going to
figure out how to beat the essays. They judge short story and essay as
one category. ??? So, I actually received a 1st in short story. Haha!
https://amazon.com/author/tdcooper
http://www.tdcooperbooks.com
Love Finds a Way
From my perch on the upper tier of the lighthouse, I watched the clouds part and allow the last remnants of sunlight to stream upon the water. I’d sat in the same place every day for years dreaming of Sofia, the woman I loved, but I wasn’t smart enough to forgive her for lying to me about her lineage. We’d fought something awful as Sofia tried to explain that she had no choice and was sorry. I accused her of trying to bewitch me with her beauty, and that I didn’t believe her apology.
Sofia disappeared.
After I cooled off, I realized I’d lost the love of my life. I searched for her, but never found Sofia.
My heart was broken. I left everything I knew, boarded a ship, and sold my soul to the lighthouse.
As I watched the sherbet-colored sunset, I sensed a storm on the horizon and was worried for the three-masted sailing ship that floated by. “I hope the ship passes the reef by midnight,” I muttered. However, by the time the sun had disappeared, I could see that they’d anchored the ship. My head dropped, and my shoulders slouched in disappointment. “I’m in for a long night.”
I left my perch when the waves began to crash against the coral reef. I etched a diagonal line through four existing lines on the wall at the top of the stairs and exhaled. I’d recorded the passing days in this way since my first day. There were too many lines to count today.
Hours later, the sky grew blacker as the clouds piled onto each other, hiding the stars, and the first flash of lightning filled the air. I primed the lamps on the lighthouse, making sure, the light was bright and that it moved across the coral reef, but before dawn, the fires went out.
The morning revealed a ship on its side with the sails churning in the current and broken on top of the rocks. I raced down the stairs, taking them three at a time.
“No!” I screamed. I saw no sign of life. “Had everyone drowned? Where were all the bodies that should’ve littered the beach?” I fell to my knees in hopelessness.
Just then, I heard singing. “There is a survivor. She’s trapped on the rocks.” I raced through the surf, “Hold on, I’m coming!” I shouted, splashing my way toward her. Diving under a wave, I emerge below her and alongside the rock where she lounged.
“Are you alright?” I shouted. She stared into my eyes with uncertainty. “Ma’am, are you alright? I’m here to take you to shore. I’m the lighthouse master.” I chocked on the water of the incoming waves and stared into familiar brilliant blue eyes. Her long blonde hair covered her breasts, and she twirled a wayward curl between her fingers. I had a feeling I should know her.
She giggled.
“What…,” I started to ask, following her stare. The lamp was shining at full brightness. I inhaled and looked back at her, noticing the ship was gone from the reef. “I don’t understand… What is happening? Wait, is that your tail?” I asked, confused, and a bit frightened. She reached out her hand, helping me out of the water.
“It’s time for you to retire. Your replacement is in the tower, and I’m your escort if you so desire,” the blue-eyed woman said and smiled.
I instantly knew who she was as she slid off the rock into the sea. I didn’t need to look back at the lighthouse, or to the waves crashing over the reef. All I saw was the half-naked woman, with a fish’s tail beckoned me to follow her into the turbulent sea.
My choice was clear… I dived headfirst into the next wave and into the waiting arms of Sofia.
https://amazon.com/author/tdcooper
http://www.tdcooperbooks.com
Love Finds a Way
From my perch on the upper tier of the lighthouse, I watched the clouds part and allow the last remnants of sunlight to stream upon the water. I’d sat in the same place every day for years dreaming of Sofia, the woman I loved, but I wasn’t smart enough to forgive her for lying to me about her lineage. We’d fought something awful as Sofia tried to explain that she had no choice and was sorry. I accused her of trying to bewitch me with her beauty, and that I didn’t believe her apology.
Sofia disappeared.
After I cooled off, I realized I’d lost the love of my life. I searched for her, but never found Sofia.
My heart was broken. I left everything I knew, boarded a ship, and sold my soul to the lighthouse.
As I watched the sherbet-colored sunset, I sensed a storm on the horizon and was worried for the three-masted sailing ship that floated by. “I hope the ship passes the reef by midnight,” I muttered. However, by the time the sun had disappeared, I could see that they’d anchored the ship. My head dropped, and my shoulders slouched in disappointment. “I’m in for a long night.”
I left my perch when the waves began to crash against the coral reef. I etched a diagonal line through four existing lines on the wall at the top of the stairs and exhaled. I’d recorded the passing days in this way since my first day. There were too many lines to count today.
Hours later, the sky grew blacker as the clouds piled onto each other, hiding the stars, and the first flash of lightning filled the air. I primed the lamps on the lighthouse, making sure, the light was bright and that it moved across the coral reef, but before dawn, the fires went out.
The morning revealed a ship on its side with the sails churning in the current and broken on top of the rocks. I raced down the stairs, taking them three at a time.
“No!” I screamed. I saw no sign of life. “Had everyone drowned? Where were all the bodies that should’ve littered the beach?” I fell to my knees in hopelessness.
Just then, I heard singing. “There is a survivor. She’s trapped on the rocks.” I raced through the surf, “Hold on, I’m coming!” I shouted, splashing my way toward her. Diving under a wave, I emerge below her and alongside the rock where she lounged.
“Are you alright?” I shouted. She stared into my eyes with uncertainty. “Ma’am, are you alright? I’m here to take you to shore. I’m the lighthouse master.” I chocked on the water of the incoming waves and stared into familiar brilliant blue eyes. Her long blonde hair covered her breasts, and she twirled a wayward curl between her fingers. I had a feeling I should know her.
She giggled.
“What…,” I started to ask, following her stare. The lamp was shining at full brightness. I inhaled and looked back at her, noticing the ship was gone from the reef. “I don’t understand… What is happening? Wait, is that your tail?” I asked, confused, and a bit frightened. She reached out her hand, helping me out of the water.
“It’s time for you to retire. Your replacement is in the tower, and I’m your escort if you so desire,” the blue-eyed woman said and smiled.
I instantly knew who she was as she slid off the rock into the sea. I didn’t need to look back at the lighthouse, or to the waves crashing over the reef. All I saw was the half-naked woman, with a fish’s tail beckoned me to follow her into the turbulent sea.
My choice was clear… I dived headfirst into the next wave and into the waiting arms of Sofia.
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