Looking Back

Fog shrouded the island. Thick
white haze, like a large wet blanket, was pulled over the entire chunk of land.
He was not afraid, he knew he would eventually be back. Life had to go on, even
if he did not. To him it seemed like years since he was on the island, but it did
not matter. Time would not move without him, it waited for him to come back.
Days, weeks, months, time would hold for as long as it had to. Like a worried
father waiting up impatiently at the table for his little girl to come home
from her first date. When he stepped back on the island, time would be there to
greet him.
He lingered on the shore. Not sure
how he arrived here, but not too shocked that he did. Just moments ago, he was
twelve years old, getting his first kiss from a small older blonde girl named
Melinda behind North High Middle School’s gym. They cut their fourth period
class together and holed up in the cafeteria not caring about what they missed
in class. Then the cafeteria was gone and he was at his high school graduation
party at Disney land, the girl of his dreams was holding his hand and pulling
him towards the line for the Doomsday drop. The fear came flooding back as he
looked up and saw the current riders plunging quickly towards the ground, he
didn’t want to ride but wasn’t willing to let go of her hand. Time seemed to
fly by, he bounced from moment to moment. Times and places started to blur
together faster than he could register them. He was there when he met his wife
for the first time. She was watching a softball game he was playing in for a
co-ed work league. He twisted his ankle and she brought him over some ice. He
saw the look in her eyes as he struggled to find something to say that would
make him seem interesting and nice. Instead, his mind drew a blank and he
stuttered and sounded like an idiot, but she smiled anyway and he did not care.
Now he was here again, standing on
the shore knowing he was supposed to follow the dirt path that cut its way
through the tropical trees and made its way deeper into the heart of the
island. He stayed back and watched his small boat come closer to the sandy
shore from the much larger research vessel anchored in the sea close by. He saw
himself, eyes wide with possibility, a smile of hope, and the sense that just
around the corner could lay the discovery of a lifetime.
He watched as he climbed out of
the boat and took in the lush foliage of the thick jungle trees. He closed his
eyes and breathed in the air, he remembered the smell, a refreshing mixture of
sea salt and fresh sand. He knew he couldn’t wait any longer, he saw himself
head down the dirt path lugging his huge equipment pack behind him and calling
back to his assistant to keep up. Still standing on the shore alone, he watched
them fade off into the jungle. He took one last long look at the beautiful
ocean wanting to take in as much as he could. Miles and miles of water cut
abruptly short by the thick veil of fog. As he looked on the fog seemed to
solidify, trapping him on the island like a cage. There was no more going back
for him. He could only follow them down the path into the jungle where time
waited for him.
He remembered how the first time,
the walk through the jungle seemed to take hours, but once he started on the
path he was already at the top of the cliffs. He watched as high above his
head, he was hugging the rocky cliff’s face as he tried to skirt the lip of the
rock wall. Trying to go higher and further than anyone else before him. Putting
in the effort he knew a new discovery would cost. He knew his right foot would
slip and for a second he would teeter on the edge before he would pull himself
roughly against the unforgiving surface. He reached up unconsciously trying to
feel for the gash that would open up when his head hits the rocky cliff wall.
 After that, he did not have to see anymore, he
knew what was going to happen. He watched as he pushed on, ignoring the pain
and wiping the blood off his face with his hand. He was so determined. He
watched until he could no longer see himself climbing the slick rock wall, it
didn’t matter anymore, he knew where he would end up. All alone on the cliff he
slowly walked out towards the edge, trying to be careful. He peered directly
over the lip. He was not shocked to see his mangled body broken and crushed
against the sharp rocks beneath him. Time caught up to him, there was nothing
he could do. He let go and joined back with his body, back where he was supposed
to be. The pain never came, just a dull numbness where it should have been. He
knew he was dying. The blood on his hand made the rocks too slippery and he could
not hold on. He should have gone back, but he was too far up, too close to the
top. A million thoughts rushed through his head as he fell. Memories and dates
he held dear, people and places he hoped to remember. It seemed to last
forever, but time would not wait for him any longer. He did not try to move,
his eyes were closed but with the last ounce of strength he had, he pried them
open. The sky above him was more beautiful than he had ever seen it. The
crystal blues were like an endless ocean waiting for him on a hot day. The sun
grew larger and brighter as he waited for what came next. It grew and grew
until it was all he saw, just one large white light in front of him, waiting
for him. His eyes were too heavy to keep open but the light did not go away. At
last, he could not hold on any longer, his eyes shut for the last time and he
slipped away.
He twisted his ankle, a beautiful young girl
with brown hair and amazingly soft brown eyes stood up and walked over to him
holding a bag of ice. He knew he would not know what to say but he had to try,
he could not take his eyes off her. He hoped this time would never end…
Category:Weird