The windjammer was moving away from the lighthouse on a peak in the distance.
I sat on a hard rock and pulled my knees to my chest. The air was crisp, but the sun warmed my face, and felt invigorating as I contemplated living there. I closed my eyes and breathed the sea air and the suns heat into my lungs. I was here. I did it, and I was never looking back.
My meditation was interrupted when a friendly yellow lab barked and placed his paws on the rock that I was perched on.
“Hello there,” I said, petting him. I looked up to see where his owner was. There was an older gentleman walking toward me with a smile and a crooked stick in one hand.
“Sorry about that,” he said as he approached lifting his walking stick and poking it into the sand with every step. I noticed that he walked with a limp and assumed the stick was for support.
“Oh, it’s okay. I think he just wanted to say hi,” I said, sliding from the rock.
“I’m John Hunter. I live about a mile north of here,” he explained pointing to the peak with his stick.
“I’m Riley,” I offered, omitting my last name. I forgot it again, but just for a second. “I live right up there,”
I pointed, kind of in the right direction. He didn’t need to know which house. You live on the other side of the peak?” I asked, wondering how he got around it.
“Yup, you have about three hours of sand before the ocean takes it back. This hour and two more,” he smiled.
“Thanks. I will remember that.” I bent to pick up a piece of sea glass that the sun had radiated on, catching my eye. I wiped it with my thumb, feeling the smooth surface.
“Purple,” John said, admiring the sea glass, “extremely uncommon. May I?” he asked, reaching for my sea glass find.
I handed it over to him and asked, “Why is purple uncommon?”
“Well, believe it or not, it started out as clear glass, used in a variety of applications from beverage bottles, food containers, decorative tableware, door knobs, and more. It could have even come from an old car windshield,” he explained and handed it back. “Wanna know something else?”
“Sure,” I replied.
“A purple sea glass find is considered to bring good luck. You should make a necklace or bracelet out of it,” he added.
Good luck? I could use that.
“Come on boy,” he called to his wandering dog.
“It was a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Riley,” he nodded and went about his walk.
I spent two hours on the beach, looking for more sea glass. I didn’t find any more. My stomach began to remind me that it needed fed, and I walked back up the path. Going down was a lot easier than getting back up.
I didn’t see Lauren again that day. I was starting to get a little antsy about starting my new job the next day. I made myself hotdogs and french-fries for supper and felt a little sneaky about it. Drew would have never eaten a hotdog. I also watched reality T.V, something else that Drew refused to watch. I seriously needed to stop doing things just because Drew would hate them, but it did make me feel like I was twisting the knife just a little, which made me smile.
I had a hard time falling asleep, and when I finally did, I woke to a pounding heart and sweating profusely.
My dream was so real, and it took me several minutes to calm myself down and convince my conscious that it wasn’t real, and I was fine.
I walked to the kitchen and got a drink of water, still trying to forget the dream. It was early morning, and I watched Lauren leave for work. Rather than going back to bed like I needed to, I ran a hot tub of water and tried to relax. I really needed to stop thinking about Drew. I was not Morgan Kelley. I was Riley Murphy, and Drew Kelley would never hurt me again. This was my life. I was not Drew Kelley’s wife. I had my own life, and I could now live it however, I pleased.
I honestly did just think I could walk away and forget the past twenty five years of my life. Needless to say, it wasn’t working, just yet. Maybe I did need to seek counseling. Ms. K had suggested it. No. I don’t need counseling. I just need to focus on my future and not my past. I can do this. I closed my eyes and breathed in the steam from the hot water, giving myself the much needed pep talk.