Iridescence

I ran over the beach today. I began at the edge of the dunes, and ran along the coast, idly listening to the crashing waves. At first it was difficult, as I plowed my way through elfish foothills made of sand, but I held my ground, and my muscles developed a rhythm. After nearly half an hour I veered off closer to the water. The sand was more densely packed, and I didn’t have to work as hard. Just as I had gotten used to the new environment, the texture of the ground under my feet changed again. Looking down, I discovered that I was running over a marbled path made of uncountable tiny shells tossed upon the sand. Alternating white and blue almost as if they had been tiled with intent, the band of shells marched along the coast ahead of me until I could no longer make out the difference between their path and the crashing waves. Understanding for an instant what it meant, I kicked off my shoes without stopping and peeled off my shirt, realizing I no longer coveted its protections. After a few more steps and a moment’s hesitation, I tossed my precious necklace away as well. The shells felt smooth under my feet. With each step my foot pushed them into the sand, soft like custard and gritty like snow. To my left lived the grey ocean coming from infinity to kiss my heels with green-capped translucent waves. To my right, incredibly, a flock of seagulls began to land, shoulder to shoulder, their brown bodies quivering. They continued to approach the sand and come to rest, until their clean white heads formed a sea of their own, reflecting the sky’s smoldering blue. Suddenly I needed nothing more than air as my feet flew in graceful arcs down the benevolent path, and iridescence reigned in all directions.