Going Home

By Harry Watts

The old man paused to catch his breath, leaning heavily on the folded chair he was struggling to carry. It was nearing sunset, and a brisk breeze tousled his mane of gray hair, carrying with it the familiar scent of the beach at twilight. The tide was rising, and small crabs emerged from the sand, scuttling toward the surf.

He scanned the coastline, searching for a dry patch of beach where he could set up his chair. After a brief search, he found the perfect spot and hoisted the chair onto his shoulder, continuing on his way. After a short walk, he settled himself into the chair and gazed out at the Gulf.

This was his favorite time of day. He loved watching the waves spring to life and race toward the shore. Although his hearing had faded with the years, muffling the once-roaring sound of the surf, his eyes remained sharp. He was grateful that time had spared him at least that much.

The aches and pains that normally accompanied him seemed to fade during these evening trips, allowing him a brief respite to enjoy the sunset. Even the dull pain in his stomach, the one caused by the advancing cancer, softened for a time. He knew his days were numbered, and each evening like this one felt like a precious gift.

As the sun sank lower, casting a golden glow over the water, he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, the salty air filling his lungs. Her memory washed over him with the tide. He could still see her as she had been that first evening they met on this very beach, over sixty years ago.

He had been visiting a college friend, enjoying one last carefree trip before leaving behind the life of a student and stepping into the responsibilities of adulthood. That evening, as he sat alone on a blanket, he noticed a solitary figure walking toward him along the water’s edge. In the fading light, he could just make out the silhouette of a woman. She moved slowly, letting the waves lap at her feet, occasionally bending to pick up something from the sand before tossing it back into the water.

As she drew closer, he saw that she was tall and slender, with long, flowing blond hair. She was beautiful, so beautiful that he found himself frozen, unable to move as she neared. When she was only a few yards away, he finally managed to scramble to his feet, stumbling toward her just as she bent down to examine a Sand Dollar. That simple shell would come to symbolize their love, eventually filling the windowsills of their home.

When she noticed him, she smiled, and his nerves kicked in. He fumbled for words, but her smile put him at ease. “Hello,” she said softly, her voice carried by the wind. “I walk this beach every evening, but I’ve never seen you before.”

“Hi,” he replied awkwardly. “I’m just visiting. My name’s Evan.”

She took his hand in hers and introduced herself. “I’m Sarah. I live just down the beach.” She noticed his gaze lingering on the Sand Dollar in her hand. “I’ve always loved these,” she explained. “I’ve been searching for the perfect one since I was a little girl, but I’ve never found it. This one’s close, though.” She examined it one last time before slipping it into her pocket.

They talked for hours that evening, sitting together on his blanket. He learned that she owned a small gift shop nearby and was passionate about community theater. She was a B.O.I. — born on the island — a term she proudly explained to him. She had been married once, briefly, to her best friend, but the marriage hadn’t lasted, though it left no children.

As the night grew late, she noticed the stars scattered across the sky. “Oh my goodness, what time is it?” she asked in surprise.

“Almost 11,” he replied, checking his watch.

“I’ve got to go,” she said, standing to leave. “But I’ll be back tomorrow.”

The next night, they met again on the beach, and this time, he told her the reckless thing he had done. He had called New York that morning and quit the job he hadn’t even started. He wasn’t sure how she would react, but to his relief, she didn’t seem surprised.

A month later, they were married.

Over the years, they had built a life together on the island. She continued to run her shop, and he found work nearby. They faced their share of heartache, especially the realization that they would never have children. But through it all, they clung to each other, finding comfort in their love.

When she passed, a part of him died too. Her absence left a void he could never fill. Not long after, his cancer diagnosis came, but he refused treatment. Life without her wasn’t worth living, and he longed to be with her again.

Now, as he sat on their beach, memories of her flooded his mind. He watched a group of seagulls diving and skimming the water, reminding him of their favorite book, Jonathon Livingston Seagull. One bird seemed to be watching him, and he smiled. “I didn’t bring any food today,” he murmured, holding up his empty hands.

Just then, a splash caught his attention, and he saw a dolphin’s fin cutting through the water. He turned back to the seagull, but instead, he saw her. She was sitting in the sand, just a few feet away, smiling at him.

“Hello, sweetheart,” she said softly. “I’ve missed you.”

He began to weep, overwhelmed by her presence. She reached out, stroking his arm gently. “It’s okay,” she whispered, “I’m here.”

They sat together for a while in silence, and then she stood, taking his hand in hers. “It’s time,” she said. “I’m here to bring you home.”

He looked at her, drinking in every detail of her face, her hair, the way she had always looked. “This isn’t real,” he thought, his mind must be clouded by the medication. But he didn’t care. He didn’t want it to end.

As she led him to his feet, she embraced him fully and kissed him, just as she had so many times before. “Don’t be afraid,” she whispered. “Heaven is even more beautiful than we imagined. Your parents are waiting for you, and mine can’t wait to meet you. Love is everywhere, Evan. It’s all around us.”

He clung to her words, to her hand, and after a while, he nodded. “Let’s go.”

Together, they walked toward the water, the stars shining down on them one last time as they stepped into the surf and into eternity.

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