Strange Solace

We stumble across a tiny town called Lovelly.

We say ‘How lovely!’ and then laugh until we are doubled over and are struggling to breathe.

We wander to the edge of the lake and admire the clear navy sky and the way the bright full moon casts a beam which shimmers on the water. 

There are eight small boats on the edge of the shore.

We will only borrow one, I say. 

We will have it back by morning, you say.

We pick the one with the tallest sail, it is faster than rowing you say.

I summon a gust of wind and you set our sail toward the sea.

The wind throws our hair into strange shapes and pushes our cheeks back into huge smiles, ‘this is the life!’ we laugh, the sound carried away on the air.

Two mermaids laugh and point as I steer the boat into the little loop-the-loops in the water.

Flying fish leap over the boat and shower us with sea water and we lick the salty tang off our lips.

A friendly siren sings us an enchanting song with a soft sweet voice and it makes us our eyes feel heavy and our brains feel light.

We notice the moon has got low is the sky and the pink and purple of sunrise has begun to creep across the horizon.

‘I am thirsty,’ I say.

‘Is it time for breakfast?’ You say.

‘Let’s get back.’ I say.

Copyright: image by Judges ltd, Hastings. Used here for creative, non-commercial purposes. Commercial postcard of Autumn Morning, Lovelly.