I Remain Here Still

My feet slide in the loose sand as I scramble, puffing, by the wild water. The salty waves spit at my hips and the mallet in my heart splinters in seconds. It shuffles behind, screeching and hissing at me in the midnight as the smashing of waves on the rocks bores the air like a kelpie cry.

I fall, wriggle, then hide my body behind a barnacle laden rock. This is the land of my ancestors. I’m not ready to —

Please...

My hand hit the phone in my pocket. Light. The shuffles cease. Minutes pass. I’m safe. All thanks to them.

#scottishmicrofiction