Shawn L. Bird

A prose selection that’s been floating in my mind for quite some time………

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     “Just how near-sighted are you?” she asked from the side of the pool.
     He laughed, as he leisurely moved his arms to keep himself upright in the deep water, “Very.”
     She slipped into the water while she watched him. About 8 feet away, she pulled up. “Can you see me here?”
     He shook his head, “Nope. You’re just grey fuzz.”
     She swam a few feet closer. “Here?”
     “Nope.”  His voice had changed subtly.  There was a timbre behind it that drew her.
     She moved in again. “Here?” Her heart was beginning to pound.
     He whispered this time. “No.”
     She blushed in the cool water as she swam even closer. Their eyes were less than a foot apart now.   Their lips were less than a foot apart.  Inches.  She could see the creases, and followed his tongue as it licked across the bottom lip.
    She swallowed and murmured, “Here?”
    He stared into her eyes as his lips curled into a slow sultry smile. “Well, you’re almost clear there.”
   She gazed into his eyes, paddling her arms gently back and forth, her heart pounding in her ears at his invitation.  She felt her life unfolding before her in the depths of his eyes. Would it be?
   Time stood still as he waited, smiling with the challenge.  The gauntlet was  thrown. 
   Time was frozen as she waited, feeling for her future, wondering.
   And suddenly, it was clear.  

   Driving the heel of her hand across the surface of the water she splashed a wave into his face, then dived past him as he reached, laughing, to grab her.
   She swam away from him, beneath the surface of her dream, deep in the water of a new choice.  She was bidding farewell to the dreams that had haunted her.  Dreams that would probably haunt her forever.  Dreams are not reality. 

   He was not The One after all.

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Technically, this isn’t about Grace & Ben although I’ve linked it to other writings about them.  It fits with the theme of Grace Awakening although it doesn’t fit into the plot.  Ben is definitely The One, so this could be Marco or Alex?  It’s a little closer to the Bright and Umed narrative, though of course, they would never have been swimming together.  Whatever it is, it’s a slice of life moment when destiny is looking you right in the eyes, and you know that the decision you make will irrevocably rearrange the rest of your life.  You have to stare deeply into the mists and decide if this is the future you choose.

It’s kind of profound when it happens to you.