BEACON.

 

She loved to be wild. She would always run on the sand with her hands outstretched, feet bare, feeling the wind and the surf. And, sitting there, I loved to see her run that way....the wind caressing her body, blowing her hair in all directions. The hem of her dress flapping against her legs. Oh! did I love those legs? I loved the way she splashed the water while she ran....totally carefree. Free with abandon. I would run with her sometimes or make her stand on my feet and would waddle, falling, laughing and rolling on the sand. Then we would walk to the lighthouse which was surrounded by huge patches of dandelion.

She would search for the dried ones, pick them up and blew off all the helicopter seeds and closing her eyes she would make a wish. I would just stand and stare at her do so. The action itself was mesmerizing for me...the muted movement of her lips, her childlike belief. She would laugh catching me staring at her. "You know Ben...I love it so much here. This place reflects so much positivity. The beacon showing the way in the dark and guiding men like the hand of God. The dandelions are so beautiful. When I make a wish, it makes me hopeful. I look forward for my wish being fulfilled. And, you know what is my wish, don't you?" The twinkle in her eyes was so hard to miss. 

And, during the night, she would jump high on the sand dunes to catch the beacon from the lighthouse. Once, we had even brought a trampoline. She had jumped and jumped, goofy and mad...trying to catch the light.

Ben, walked through the dandelions. This was where she slept now....buried under the earth. This is where she had belonged, there is where she had been alive. This is where she had wanted to be forever. He picks up a dried dandelion, closes his eyes and makes a wish - "I wish to be with Sue, here and forever."

For - Mag 169