“Oh my gosh, find him!” A voice screamed hysterically. I squinted into the intense, blinding sunlight and frantically scanned the vast blue horizon. Beads of sweat formed on the ridge of my forehead. My heart took on the beat of an Indian's drum, painfully pounding harder, faster. My breath came quickly, increasing in speed as my anxiety rose. With every new pump of adrenaline, an overwhelming wave of nausea engulfed me. Foamy waves crashed along the shore. stealthily swirling and swallowing; grabbing like deceiving hands. Seagulls screeched and dipped down towards me, warning, condemning. The rustling sea oats whispered accusations of blame.
Suddenly I heard distant cries, muffled by the wind and crashing waves. The scenery spun wildly around and around as I feverishly searched the landscape in the direction of the small voice. In utter disbelief, I caught sight of a flaxen head bobbing between two gigantic waves. His tiny frail arms splashed about madly in desperation fighting the sucking currents of the undertow. I shot across the scorching sand, stumbling over tanned bodies sprawled out across the shore line, oblivious to sharp shells slicing the bottoms of my bare feet.
As I tore into the water, I realized in horror that the flaxen head had disappeared! The weakening of my knees caused my body to collapse, and I instinctively began to swim to the spot where I had last seen my drowning brother. Surging waves tossed me to and fro, forcing bitter, acrid saltwater down my throat. The intense glow of the noon sun created a reflection of flickering flames across the surface of the ocean, resembling the golden-colored hair of my brother. To my left, I heard a faint gurgling noise, then a splash. I turned to see a tiny pale hand emerge from the water, grasping the air in agony. In one swift movement, I dove towards my brother and grabbed hold of a frail, cold arm. I tugged at his body and led him up to the surface of the water. He coughed and sputtered and instinctively began to cry. His little warm body clung tightly to me as tears streamed down his sunburned cheeks. I struggled through the turbulent waves and staggered back to the safe, warm sands of the shore. My brother laid his small white head on my shoulder as his shrill cries subsided to soft whimpering.
An overflowing surge of relief drained all the energy from my body. I began to shake and quiver at the thought of what could have happened. As I stroked the golden strands of my little brother's hair, my eyes grew blurry with tears. As we sat in silence, we watched the warm orange glow of the setting sun, together.
Suddenly I heard distant cries, muffled by the wind and crashing waves. The scenery spun wildly around and around as I feverishly searched the landscape in the direction of the small voice. In utter disbelief, I caught sight of a flaxen head bobbing between two gigantic waves. His tiny frail arms splashed about madly in desperation fighting the sucking currents of the undertow. I shot across the scorching sand, stumbling over tanned bodies sprawled out across the shore line, oblivious to sharp shells slicing the bottoms of my bare feet.
As I tore into the water, I realized in horror that the flaxen head had disappeared! The weakening of my knees caused my body to collapse, and I instinctively began to swim to the spot where I had last seen my drowning brother. Surging waves tossed me to and fro, forcing bitter, acrid saltwater down my throat. The intense glow of the noon sun created a reflection of flickering flames across the surface of the ocean, resembling the golden-colored hair of my brother. To my left, I heard a faint gurgling noise, then a splash. I turned to see a tiny pale hand emerge from the water, grasping the air in agony. In one swift movement, I dove towards my brother and grabbed hold of a frail, cold arm. I tugged at his body and led him up to the surface of the water. He coughed and sputtered and instinctively began to cry. His little warm body clung tightly to me as tears streamed down his sunburned cheeks. I struggled through the turbulent waves and staggered back to the safe, warm sands of the shore. My brother laid his small white head on my shoulder as his shrill cries subsided to soft whimpering.
An overflowing surge of relief drained all the energy from my body. I began to shake and quiver at the thought of what could have happened. As I stroked the golden strands of my little brother's hair, my eyes grew blurry with tears. As we sat in silence, we watched the warm orange glow of the setting sun, together.
This piece has been published in Teen Ink’s monthly print magazine.
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