Tropical Sands

The dust of the earth made her feet appear dingy and rotten to the core. She swiped it away with one brush of her right hand. Ocean waves tumbled in from the seaside, finishing her chore.

She lay in the tropical Brazilian sun, the heat beating down on every inch of her exposed body. Her thoughts meandered along with the light green seafoam inching ever closer with the incoming tide. She smiled, her sunglasses covering up the delight in her big blue eyes. She wiggled her painted toes in the dry white sand.

“Would you care for a drink?” The waiter approached her, struggling to keep his footing on the shifting sand.

“No, thank you.” She brushed off the offer as she did the sand from her feet. Her umbrella ruffled its feathers in the light wind, only slightly disturbed by the force. It stood its ground, firmly anchored in the golden earth impressing upon it. She smiled, and closed her eyes, under the gaze of the gray umbrella.

She silently vowed to never come back here again. A small tear fell from her right eye.

It was all she could muster, for the pain still lingered. The ocean crashing around her drowned out its intensity. But deep inside, it was still there, hanging on for dear life.

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