My entry for the phone photography contest week 10
The Day the Beach Showed Me More
The salty breeze whipped through my hair, carrying with it the distant cries of seagulls and the rhythmic crash of waves against the shore. It was another ordinary day at the beach, or so I thought. I perched myself on a worn-down rock, phone clutched in hand, ready for the usual sunset photo dump.
But something stopped me. Maybe it was the way the sunlight danced across the endless expanse of water, creating a mesmerizing tapestry of orange, Maybe it was the playful tug of the waves at my feet, urging me to shed my shoes and join the dance. Whatever it was, a strange stillness settled over me.
I lowered my phone, my gaze drawn to a lone figure further down the beach. It was an elderly woman, hunched over a bucket, meticulously collecting seashells. Curiosity piqued, I approached her, the crunch of sand underfoot the only sound.
As I neared, she straightened up, revealing a face etched with the stories of a life well-lived. Her kind eyes crinkled at the corners as she offered me a shy smile. We struck up a conversation, and I learned that she wasn't just collecting shells; she was collecting memories.
Each shell held a story, a whisper of the ocean's secrets. Some were smooth and polished, carrying tales of faraway journeys. Others were rough and barnacled, holding onto the battles fought against the tide. She spoke of the ocean's power and fragility in the same breath, reminding me of the delicate balance of our world.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in a fiery farewell, I felt a shift within myself. The urge to capture the scene on my phone had faded. Instead, I wanted to capture it in my heart.
I spent the rest of the evening listening to her stories, captivated not just by the seashells but by the wisdom they carried. When it was time to leave, I left with a handful of shells, each a reminder of the day the beach showed me more than just a pretty sunset. It showed me the power of connection, the beauty in the ordinary, and the stories that lie hidden in plain sight.