An Afternoon at the Beach

This is in response to the post: Flash Fiction for the Purposeful Practitioner:2021 Week #19--some flash fiction inspired by the picture of the week: 

So, I seldom do these, but here goes: 

 

The woman rose from her table and stood, as if posing for me, letting me see the curves of her body and the golden skin of her back and shoulders. Leaving her books and sunglasses behind, she walked across the beach towards the waves that lapped at the white sand. She waded into the water and then swam from the shore. 

I watched her, admiring the grace and strength of her strokes as she receded toward the horizon. She became smaller and smaller until, finally, she was gone. I sat down at her table, shaded from the afternoon sun. 

An hour passed, then two. I picked up her books and read them, sharing with her their words, as if I might understand what they said to her.  When it became too dark to see, I set them back down and I rose and left, going the other way, toward the land. 

Have a good one!   -Roy