1. The sun sets as i walk down the beach, the breakers lashing at my feet. The sand stings my underfoot, the air; sniffs of salt.
Bottles in the sand, a burnt-out fire pit, gulls circling the horizon.
The lone dory sits waiting, We call it a “dinghy.” Untethered from Her coastal tie i drag Her down the dunes.
Pushing off into the bay, i climb into serenity. Take a moment. Take a breath. i give three hefty tugs of the starter,
and turn to face the hull, placing my left hand on the motor. i rev the throttle and take off into the sea.
2. i steady myself with my right hand, speeding, taking wave after wave, never breaking my gaze toward the horizon.
i go further and further As the waves grow greater and greater still. The bow crashes into boomer after boomer.
A roller spills into Her from the starboard side. The sun still setting, but i can catch it.
my right hand abandons my poise and grabs the bail. She charges ahead As i relieve Her of unwelcome water.
The motor begins to sputter. As i turn to check it i glance back towards the shore; so far-gone, my life seems distant to me. Only the horizon and the endless ocean ahead.
The sun still sets. Turning the throttle further still Until it cannot turn any more. Splashes of salt water sting my eyes, but i don’t blink.
She hits another boomer and knocks me down. Hand still on the throttle, i pull myself up; The sun is almost gone.
Too much weight still. i unhinge the anchor and toss it, i toss the oars and i toss the life jackets.
3. She slams into another wave flying into air and spray.
The speed. The slice of sun.
The motor coughs again but this time it doesn’t fix. The ocean knocks the boat to a halt.