Phillip was positive that the last time he had been to the sea, the redhead had popped out of the waves with hair that were a striking contrast to the silky aqua blue-green of the waves. But just as it had suddenly appeared, it had also disappeared. It definitely was the back of some girl’s head, Philip was certain. A fortnight had lapsed but the guy would not depart this thought from his mind. He was a fairly certain man and his life had always been punctuated with confidence. This time, however, it was different.
It was different because no one would believe him no matter how hard he tried to convince them. A few seconds during the two weeks, he often ended up convincing himself too. Since the sun was setting, it could be a faulty sight on part of his vision or maybe an imagined thought. But Philip did not want to accede to the second thought. He often worried that it was a hoax trick of the eye or the mind or both of them together for a change. But even as he entertained this thought lightly, he did not want to admit it to himself that he was, in truth, falling into the net of superstitions that was woven around this forbidden area.
Believing in ancient tales was not a strong man’s deed. He had to be sure of himself at all times but was he really sure? Philip kept pestering himself with all sorts of questions. Answers that came back to him were more absurd than sensible or scientific.
With the struggle still bubbling in the pit of his belly and a slow shroud of myths overtaking his brain, Philip visited the cliffs for the fourteenth time in the morning. The sun shone in all its crunchy might of bright yellows, no guilt or regrets, no fears or suspicions. It was only mirrored certainty and within its shelter guaranteed the same to the man quickly approaching the seas with ruffled long hair, tied at the nape of his neck and a light stubble covering his pointed chin and sharp jawline.
Phillip waited impatiently with his heart beating drums of anticipation. Light jitters of nervousness also rattled his spine but he ignored those altogether. Seconds, minutes and even an hour lapsed but there was nothing. Tired and somewhat heartbroken, Philip sat by the cliffs, cleaning the lens of his camera with the white button-down cotton shirt that he had paired with his beige Bermuda shorts.
After a long time, the sun gave in and he decided to give up the search for a redhead that was probably a treachery of the night’s shades. Philip watched aimlessly into the waves, hungrily leaping over each other until a red head appeared with her face watching Philip from the seas.
Forgetting all about this camera, the guy ran to catch a glimpse of his thought in real life. A pair of innocent green eyes watched him, shy yet sure of themselves. Her hair clung to her neck and for a few long seconds, Philip actually doubted his reality again. It was only when the girl greeted him that Philip realized that he should have never doubted himself at all.
She smiled and Philip was sure that it was best thing he had ever seen in the twenty-five years of his life.
