I was eight. ~

I clearly remember the dark clouds, the blowing wind, the sound of thunder, the arcs of lightning, all mixed in with the heat and cool of wind blowing together. The sensation of grains of sand moving between my toes and over my feet, my fingers sliding through the semi-wet sand, forming shapes as my mother called us in to go to the apartment.

At one point while walking back, I turned to see the clouds over the ocean, and saw the umbrella on the table next to the hot tub flapping in the wind. I believe it was hurricane season. The pavement was wet with chlorine water, and mixed with random sand grains, and the smell was amazing. There was nobody in sight, except for my mother, siblings, myself, and random people who were walking back to their abodes.

Emptiness, but serenity. I wondered what the world would be like without people, the natural forces playing as actors on the stage of the planet. The remains of our civilization, standing the test of time as best they can. A remnant of us, of what we were, and what we aspired to be. But pushed back by a simple ocean storm, back to our shelters to watch the world dance.

I think I went to the balcony, and watched the storm from there before the clouds with thunder and lightning came too close, and water droplets began to strike the concrete flooring and metal rail, the plastic seats and the smooth-stone table. The glass of the sliding door was slowly being covered by water, and by then I decided to go in, and the memory fades to inconspicuousness.

I was eight. ~

:]
I really do wish I could write like you do. Simply gorgeous.

Wow Daniel...and you resigned from the DV book project as a writer...WHY? I was briefly entranced, thank you for that. Very good writing Daniel ;-)

Damn, man. Overwhelming feelings of nostalgia and wonderment are evoked by this piece.

Great work. Unshelving, dusting off and displaying proudly an old memory, put in such fine narrative . . . talent inherent.

Not much I can identify with in that story, but I still got immersed completely.
These things are usually even better, when you have somebody read them out to you though, like you can just sit back and close your eyes, and let whatever is being said drive your imagination.

:]