With bare feet she walks

With intent to teach

On the sandy path

Back from the beach.

She looks over her shoulder,

Smiles and laughs

As her baby sister

Toddles down the path.

"No no," she coos,

"go on back there"

And points behind

To wooden stairs.

The freckled child

Nods and sways,

Going back

The sandy way.

The young teacher

Squints at the sun,

Looks before her,

Sees no one.

She gathers her skirt

And picks up her towel

Before she hears

A hungry growl.

She calms herself—

It's just a man—

Until she hears footsteps

from the sand.

She gasps and turns,

Tries to get away

From the monster

That lurks during the day.

Before she can scream

She falls upon the sand

And flushes at the feeling

Of salt water hands.

He smells of the ocean

But feels like something cruel,

Taking her beneath him,

Making her his fool.

She breathes in heavy manner

And claws at salty skin,

But the monster from the sea

Finds his way in.

When he pins her and

Light shines on his face,

She's surprised to find he's evil

Wrapped in human lace.

When he has decided

He is finished with her shell

He stands and leaves her

Drowning in her hell.

After sunburned moments

Of dazed, ragged breath,

The woman stands and chooses

Life over death.

She limps up to the beach house,

Skirt dragging behind,

And steps into the shower,

Surprised at what she finds.

Nestled on a beam

Inside the wooden shower

Lays a tiny oval;

Hope in horror's hour.

The teacher flicks the water off

And peers with teary eyes alight:

A brown and white egg—

A bird not yet in flight.

She cradles it inside her palm,

Tilts her head up and begs,

"You let him take me, my god,

Please spare this lovely egg."

She carefully pads over

To the garden, makes a nest,

So that the porcelain egg

May be safe…and rest.

The woman sits upon a bench

Near hope she can reach,

And cares for the morning dove

Found on the path back from the beach.