I Am a River

Silent Invictus

I am a river. Mighty and strong. Life giving, life taking. A young girl is pulled under by my powerful current. She doesn’t want to be so entwined with me.

I see her often, sitting under the pine trees by my shore, just listening. Always alone, but not today. Another is present but unnoticeable. When she slips into my depths, he is there.

The flailing halts, and I feel her just… stop. Brown eyes open and look at me, my crystal body flowing into her. She breathes me, becoming one with me.

She is a river now.

Does she see the fish flitting around her? Does she feel the cold embracing her? She is falling away and I am sad when I see her eyes go blank, yet happy that we will be together forever. She is sinking, but then she is rising quickly, strong arms tugging her into the air.

The stranger pushes and squeezes her lungs until she coughs what little bit of me is still one with her onto the sand. The man wraps his jacket around the unconscious, but breathing, girl and calls for help. When the ambulance arrives, he thanks them for coming so quickly.

But while the men are gently lifting her into the van, I am the only one who watches him slip away, leaving her in his jacket. I feel sorry for her, knowing that she will never get to thank him, but happy, knowing that she will never forget the angel in the green-wool jacket.

Can I move past her? I continue on, yet linger in our spot, waiting for her. Waiting, always waiting. The animals, my friends whom I see everyday, are the only ones that come. I decide to go. There is nothing for me here.

But then I see her, stalking warily towards me. It is raining and it is obvious that she came to see me, not wanting to be afraid any longer. She sits under the pines, breathing in the scent of honeysuckle that is muted by the heavy smell of the rain.

All is well, for I am a river. Mighty and strong.