So Close & Yet Worlds Apart

A seemingly quiet beach I roamed

Warm sand beneath my feet

Quieting my mind of all thoughts

Seeking peace and tranquility

No worries, cares, or voices to tug at me

 

It’s easier to find a quiet place

Than it is to quiet the mind

The voices try to break free

Emotions try to overwhelm me

“SEE ME!”, they all cry

 

Sometimes we just need a moment totally alone

Fully free from everything

Even ourselves, if that makes any sense

So I chose this place of beauty to seclude myself

Even if for only a little while

 

With great will power, I manage to quiet my mind

Staring at the calm water

The sun is hot

But the breeze lightly touches my tanned skin

The elements are kind to me today

 

I sit and as time goes by, my eyes begin to droop

The day fades away while I slumber

I wake to see the sky has painted a beautiful array of colors

My limbs are stiff as I try to stretch

I know that I must return to reality though

 

I grab my bag and pull myself to my feet

The sand is still warm beneath them

I purposefully walk slowly towards civilization

As the grogginess wears off

The voices within me begin to wake

 

“It’s been long enough, hear me now!”, they shout

Okay, fine, but one at a time I think grudgingly

I see my car as I finally get to the lot

But it is not alone

Next to my silver friend is a small blue Toyota

 

I don’t see anyone about

There was no evidence of anyone when I was out

But who knows, the beach is pretty big

Maybe there is another soul here trying to find quiet

I think little of it as I get into my car to leave

 

I walk through the door and sounds of life greet me

Norbert lovingly nudges my leg

The smells of grilled chicken meets my nose

“Honey, how was your soul searching?”

“Mom, hey can Tanner come over later?”

 

I get back to the hustle and bustle of life

Dinner with my family, a walk with my hubby and dog

Clean up time, watching my boys play the Wii

Making calls, setting up appointments

Settling in for the night

 

As I turn on the nightly news

I am greeted by a familiar sight

There is the beach I was at today

They found a nineteen year old boy dead

A couple miles down from where I’d been

 

Was that the one who had the blue Toyota?

They said it was suicide

There was a note in his car

His girlfriend had left him, lost his job

Felt alone and yet he wasn’t, only I didn’t know

 

It saddened me that even when two can be so close in distance

They can be worlds apart

My heart ached for the young man

Would I have been able to help had I wandered a little further?

Could his life had been saved?

 

I know it’s not my fault

I had no way of knowing he was there

Or what was going on

I didn’t even know him

And yet I feel so bad

 

A young life is lost

People out there grieve for him

Friends and family have to say goodbye

I cry for the life lost today

And cherish those around me just a little bit more