By Edward Clark
We woke up at five and walked to the beach. The sea was cold, cold to the touch as I strode in first, feeling the cool, slippery rocks beneath my feet. I brushed the glossy surface of the pebbles and the smooth wrack as I plunged, plunged my right foot into the water, listening to the sound of the waves washing over the burnished stones skipping on my left, the sound of the first seagull squawking. The water was dark; calm. I braced myself and
my teeth chatter with perseverance. My knees, waist – deep breath – stomach. There is a certain peace in the dark: the sky sunless, the water cold, cold to the touch of my collarbone. I look into the void, but all I hear is the sound of splashing feet behind me, the sound of my heart beating higher and higher in my chest as the heat of my heart warms the ocean as I raise my feet up, away from the slimy stones as my left pinky toe narrowly misses an urchin sleeping on the pink granite teeth bared ready to fight. My words stop. My shoulders, chin, eyes submerged and merged invisible in the deep. I surface, laugh. My hand grazes my naked chest and feels the braille on my skin
my body was so cold my teeth chattered uncontrollably my soaking hair in my eyes my fingers pitch purple my arms lilac. A wave broke over my head. I laughed the sea out of my nose as we walked home towards the sunrise.
Featured Image – Honor Adams