Fireflies In The Sand

If you go down to the ocean at the right time, on the right night, you can watch the sand glow under your feet. Like tiny fireflies imbedded in the sand, activated by the slightest agitation. Bioluminescence is the name for it, but for Jennifer, it was when the stars came to lay in the sand. Like weary desert travelers in search of an oasis. Somewhat like her, she supposed. After her failed marriage, she felt as if she had been blowing in the wind, waiting to see where she landed. That was back at home with her mom. Just as the stars, now strung along the beach like a shipwrecked constellation; this is not where she thought she would be at this stage in her life. So, she sat and waited for the next wave to lap against the sand and twinkle the fallen stars.

Jennifer was not surprised that she ended up at the shoreline, after going for a drive to clear her head. The beach at night often called to her subconscious. But not every night you got to see the splendor and beauty Mother Nature showed to a lucky few. She felt special. It had been a long time since she felt special; and it had been a long time since she had seen the lights some would never get to see. She missed home. She was glad to be back, even if it was to her childhood home.

Suddenly, she felt something coming up behind her. At first, it was just a feeling, but then she could hear feet shuffling in the sand. The hair on the back of her neck stood straight up. Jennifer filled her hands with sand; they were almost right behind her. Just then, there was a flashlight shining on her; she stood up and turned around. Even though the light was blinding her, she threw the sand in her hands in the direction of the flashlight. “Get away, pervert!” They dropped the flashlight, and Jennifer ran. She could hear a man cussing as she ran towards the road. She saw a cop car parked on the side of the road, and began to yell, “Help, Police!” She heard the voice behind her say, “I am the Police.” She recognized the voice once she heard him more clearly. It sounded just like her high school boyfriend. “Oliver?” She said without thinking.

By this time the officer had rubbed the sand out of his eyes; and retrieved his flashlight. The officer shined his light on the mystery woman, who apparently knew his first name, this time at a distance. “Jennifer?” He said back to her in disbelief. “I’m so sorry; I thought you were a pervert.” She blurted out as her old flame got closer. “Yeah, I kinda gathered that when you yelled pervert, and threw sand in my face.” She smiled, Jennifer could see the boy she knew in the man in front of her, as the moonlight beamed on his face. “Are you visiting your mom?” He asked. “No, actually. I’m – I’ve moved back in with her, after my divorce was finalized a few months ago.” She replied, stumbling through her response.

Oliver tried not to look happy at the fact that she was single again. “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. But I have to say, it’s great to see you.” “Thank you, Oliver. It’s good to see you too.” Her eyes still had that sparkle in them. He used to think he had just imagined it in his teenaged memories, but there they were. There she was, the one that got away. He casually scratched the side of his face deliberately using his left hand, hoping she’d see there was no ring. “Let me make the whole pervert accusation, and sand throwing thing up to you. Can I buy you a cup of coffee some time?” she asked, boldly. “Tell you what; you let me buy you dinner and we’ll call it even.” he answered back. “That sounds nice.” she said while blushing.

As he walked Jennifer to her car, he told her, “It’s funny; I had no reason to stop here tonight other than a gut feeling. Of course, I thought I was going to find something wrong; but then I found you. Could have gone without the sand to the eyes, though.” She laughed harder than she had in months. Jennifer took one last look at the sparkling sand. It then dawned on her, they weren’t lost stars, and neither was she. They were unique creatures of the sea, waiting for someone worthy to shine for. And sometimes by fate, or chance, we end up right where we need to be, whether we know it or not.