Lost

Where and who do you turn to in times of darkness. In moments where you might lose everything, including yourself. The answer, nowhere. Because you’re already lost.

"To be lost and never found, that's such a terrible fate," she says, staring out across the sea. "How can one venture out onto the water knowing of the risk? Wouldn't it be better to stay on the shore?"

"And lose the adventure?" I ask. "Why would someone find that better?"

"Rather be safe than sorry. If it was a choice between losing the adventure and losing myself at sea, I'd gladly pass up the adventure," she says, glancing at me and shrugging. "That's just the thinking of a rational person is all."

I look out towards the churning waters, ignoring her last sentence, "Knowing risks shouldn't keep you from wanting to go explore. It's not about that. It doesn't actually matter how far out you go."

"Then I was right from the beginning, there's absolutely no point to any of this," she snaps, turning away and jumping off of the boat and onto the dock.

"Conquering the risk and finding the truth of the ocean," I explain. "That's the adventure. And those who sail aren't afraid of being lost because they're confident in the waves, in the sun, the water and the air. Those that were born in the name of water are meant to be on water. They can never truly get lost because out there they find who they are inside."

She stops, but she doesn't turn around, and already I knew that she didn't have any faith in the water.

"You've got to believe in the water. The water will be your guide," I urge.

"Does it guide you?" she demands.

"It's never let me down," I say.

"Not yet, but it will one day," she says, walking away.

Reviews

[barleygirl]

This is one of the best stories I've read all week & I've read many. I totally felt the tension in this conversation, me personally on the side of adventuring, which I did often in my youth (as I watched everyone I knew become tied down with marriage, kids, house payments, more & more possessions & payments, etc). I love the symbol of knowing & loving the water. This could apply to so many other ways of adventuring thru life, but for this scenario, nicely dramatic becuz of the deadly power of the waves. You do a great job of setting up two conflicting approaches to living & showing the limitations of taking the safe predictable path (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Lyanth]

"Not yet, but it will one day." Would I be wrong to assume she's had or someone she knows has had a fateful experience at sea? Very intriguing piece, amazing dialogue. Well done.

[Karmee]

This is a very interesting write here, I enjoyed this.

[PaintedBirdy]

this is a very interesting message. it's like water is life: you can be in it and see it coming but only so much. it's rather lovely how you express it. you are like a blanket of goodness.

i've traveled more than nearly everyone i've ever met, and one of the best things i ever did was travel around homelessly when i was a young adult. whatever you want to do, i think you should just go out and do it. that's some of my best advice. stop listening to nay-sayers, even though they're the ones who love us the most, and just go do whatever it is you want to do. wander aimlessly.