Date: Jul 24, 2018
I stand alone at the edge of the wooden dock
When a man arrives in a boat
We begin to talk
He asks me where I'm headed
I tell him away
He asks what's the matter
I tell him it's okay
He warns me of a storm coming
It's headed this way
Tells me I should wait to depart another day
I assure him I can handle the storm
He gives me his jacket to keep me warm
He then takes my hand we step on the boat
In that moment I didn't want him to let go
He told me to be careful
And let go of my hand
Before I knew it I was far from the land
The waters were calm for about an hour
Then just as I'd been warned it started to shower
I put on the jacket and began riding the waves
The sky became dark
The distance a haze
The clouds begin to roll the rain becomes hail
The clouds now forming a tornado tail
I should have listened to his warning
And waited until the morning
The tail now touching the water
The boat begins to spin
I begin to pray confessing my sins
The boat is lifted into the sky
I anchor myself to the boat awaiting my demise
I ask for a miracle with my last breath
I then put my hand in the pocket the pocket on the left
Inside was a gemstone with something inscribed
I unblurred my eyes to read what's inside
"Skip a stone to bring you home in the storm you are not alone"
I found a few stones to try and skip
Don't want to waste the only chance I may get
I fail at every attempt they sink to the bottom of the sea
The twister now turning uncontrollably
I close my eyes and grasp the stone
Dreading it's plunder to the bed below
I have to watch to see if I succeed
Hoping from this storm to be freed
With no water still only circulating through the air
The possibilities of me skipping are unfair
I stand tall pull my shoulder back
I feel the rock leave my hand as the boat begins to crack
It skipped through the sky as if it were a rubber ball
The twister disappears I and the boat begin to fall
The ocean below becomes nearer
I close my eyes in imminent fear
I see yellow light behind my eyes
I open them
To my surprise?
I have landed safetly at the edge of the beach
When I see a rock just within reach
It couldn't be the rock from the jacket pocket
It just couldnt be
I dusted it off and sure enough
The writing was there just a bit scuffed
I sat in awe that I survived the storm
Yet why didn't the rock bring me home?
I stepped onto the dock still holding the rock
Still wearing the jacket I Began to walk
I reached a highway and stuck out my thumb
The thunder still beating like a bass drum
When a pick up truck pulled to the shoulder
I sighed in relief my night was over
The wet window rolled down
"You made it"
I said in my head
I walked towards my lift home
Picturing my soft warm bed.
Still wondering about what the rock had said
It was partially right I'm on my way home
Yet I know when I get there I will be alone
A dark shadow of a man leans to open the door
I step inside the smell of carp fills the cab
In the middle is an old black lab
In the driver's seat a man pulls back his hood
It was too dark to make out his face
but I recognized his voice when he did talk
"I see you found what I had left for you"
Confused I asked "what do you mean"
"The skipping stone my dear to bring you home"
"I got it from a man at the dock how do you know?"
"I am here to bring you home"
Still in disbelief I assume it's a dream
I'm never this lucky in my reality
The rest of the ride is silent
The only sound is the rain on the windshield
and the wipers washing it away
The truck comes to a hault the engine turns off
We are at a home but it is not my own
Maybe he's taking me in to use the phone
The interior light comes on as he opens his door
My jaw then drops to the mat on the floor
It was the man from the dock
He then smiles at me
"I'm glad you made it home safe and sound"
He looked confused when I started to frown
I can't thank you enough for all of your help but I must say
"This is not my home I live miles the other way"
"You skipped the stone didn't you dear?"
I felt comfort instead of fear
"Yes I skipped it through the storm but I'm sorry this is not my home"
He took my hand I walked with him up the steps to the front door
"Did you check the other pocket in the jacket I gave you before?"
I placed my hand inside and pulled out a key
"Give it a try" the man said while nodding towards the door and me
I put the key in the lock and turned it ...it clicked
The door creaked open a beat my heart skipped
"I promised you would make it home but I knew that there you would be alone. I have made a promise I intend to keep"
"It's okay I'm used to being alone
no debt to repay no promise to keep
You saved my life all I seek is a good night sleep
With that he directed me to a room with a bed
gave me dry clothes and kissed my forehead
Wished me goodnight
Shut off the light
My eyes get heavy I drift away
Expecting to wake up from this crazy dream
To start a brand new day.
I awake to the smell of bacon
I opened my eyes I was in my bed
What a big surprise
It was only a dream
All in my head
I walked down the stairs when at the table I see
The man and his dog cooking breakfast for me
In complete confusion I ask "what's going on how did this happen?"
The man then smiled and began laughing
"Dear you must have had a rough night sleep,
Here sit have something to eat"
I looked at the pictures hanging up on the wall
It was us dancing in a banquet hall
We were much younger he was just as tall
I don't remember this, not at all
" I had a dream last night I was on a boat in a storm, I skipped a rock through the sky and you brought me home I am confused who are you and why are you here?"
Words the man was dreading to hear
"You were in a boating accident ,a storm picked up your boat you were hurt and in a coma for a year;
I brought you home last night you don't remember dear? "
The doctor did warn me it may take some time
For you to remember me but that is just fine
"What's this I hear about you skipping a rock? "
"I did and it was magic It brought me home,
I was afraid I'd be all alone"
On the coat rack hung a long coat
Matching the one I wore on the boat
I reached inside the left pocket angry and confused
Inside was a wedding ring or so I presume
"I know there was a rock I know it is here
It had writing in it I'll show you my dear"
The man turned the ring to the light and written inside the band
Was the inscription on the rock she once held in her hand
"Skip a stone to take you home in the storm you are not alone"
"When we were kids we would skip stones in the creek and kiss under the stars
You could skip a stone but not very far"
I looked into his eyes for a while...
"Oh David I remember everything" I began to cry
"I knew one day you'd come back to me"
I wasn't ready to say goodbye.