Sshh. The roll of the waves or the sound from my lips. The noise of the sand as it flips under foot, the rush of the wind as it tugs at my sleeves.
Long birds low enough to scare, being scared. Two people wait as the sea tides turn. The sky so blue it hurts; the sun so strong it burns.
It’s fun to be unnoticed; nestled in the dunes with little else to do but watch and sometimes learn a trick. And there’s always things to learn; by mistakes they say, their mistakes. A snake in the grass has nothing on me.
Oh, the noise of the gulls as they pass overhead. They try to warn but cry in vain. I’m better than them.
In moments of sleep I am back near the boat, that very first time. The air cold with longing; the night warm with craved intent.
Then I’m back at the dunes, expecting to see someone standing over me, finding me, but they don’t, of course.
They never have; time after time after time again.
Give me this day… my daily bread.
I almost laugh. Instead I watch and wait.