An island rose from the sea

 

It began as a little girl’s wish to have a magical place of her own. She prayed fervently every night for years but nothing changed.

Years passed and she was lying on her death bed when her granddaughter burst into the room. “Grandma look out the window, there’s something you have to see.”

“I’m to tired child.”

“But Grandma there’s an island. It wasn’t there yesterday but it is today. Everyone is talking about it, some people are saying it’s dark magic. But I don’t believe it’s dark when you can see all the beautiful flowers in bloom.”

“Yes, child.”

“Grandma, please come to the window. I know seeing all the beauty will make you feel better.”

She wanted to lie there. She felt so tired, her time must be near. Yet, she didn’t want to disppoint her granddaughter. She tugged with her all her might to upright herself. It took a lot for her to stand but she made it. She grasped the nightstand table top and then the rocker until she made it to the window.

The sky didn’t have a cloud anywhere to be seen, yet the ocean looked more like ebony than blue to her. Sailor’s beware when the sea  looks dead. She turned to look more toward the right side of the bay and there it was. An island with a rocky shore line with lush green trees and flowers in every color under the rainbow. Were her  eyes playing tricks on her?

“Megan, get your father please.”

“Mom, what’s the matter?”

“Take me to the island, son.”

“But, Mom, you’re not strong enough.”

“Charles, take me to the island before its too late.”

Charles and Megan helped her down the stairs and across the yard. She looked like an ancient porcelain doll in the bright sunlight. They had to pause several times to let her catch her breath before moving on but eventually they made it to the pier. She asked him to hurry, time was running out.

He didn’t understand his mother’s urgency but didn’t want to disppoint her. It had been a very long time since she had been focused on anything let alone be on her feet walking. He paddled the boat until they were deep enough to drop the motor down.

His mother stared straight ahead as the wind teased her silver strands free from the bun Megan had put up earlier for her grandmother.

It only took a few mintues to arrive at the island but it seemed like forever to her. “Charles, please bring me close enough to walk.”

“Give me a minute, Mom, to tie the boat off and we’ll come with you.”

“No. No, I must go alone.”

Charles and Megan watched her struggle to stand in the gentle waves. She was hunched over using on her cane to support her frail body.

“Dad, is Grandma going to make it? Why can’t we go with her to help?”

The sky changed while they waited, He was worried that a storm was brewing. He needed to get them back home safely before the seas got rough. He called out to his mother but she didn’t answer. He and Megan frantically ran ashore to look for her.

She was lying beside the mountain laurel. He noted the peaceful expression on her face and knew without checking she was gone. He gently lifted his mother, surprised how little she weighed. All these years, she was a force to be reckoned with yet in this moment a feather weighed more.

He paddled his mom and Megan back to the mainland. The rain came down fiercely as they tied the boat to the pier. They scrambled to get inside the house. He gently laid his mother on her rose comforter. Megan combed her hair before kissing her forehead.

“I love you Grandma.”

During dinner, Megan looked out the window. “Dad, the island is gone”

“What?” He ran outside and just as Megan had said the dark sea stretched for miles with no land in sight.

first draft..