Liz filled my dreams.
Her face showed up in flashes, images of her smiling at me. Some from the ocean, some from her bedroom, some from restaurants, some from places I couldn’t see.
Then she was off in the distance, a stretch of sand I didn’t recognize. Her mouth was moving, but I couldn’t hear her. I called out to her, tried to get closer to her, but I still couldn’t hear. I walked at first, then ran. But no matter how fast I ran, I couldn’t get closer. She stayed off in the distance, now cupping her hands, like she was yelling toward me.
My feet pounded the sand, my legs churning as I tried to get to her.
Her hands were in the air now, waving at me as if she was trying to get my attention and I couldn’t see her.
But I could see her perfectly.
I just needed to get to her.
Finally, I seemed to be closing the distance. I could hear her voice, but couldn’t make out the words.
I ran harder.
I caught my toe in the sand and stumbled, nearly going face first into the sand.
I regained my balance and looked up.
She was gone.
Gone.