My Sanctuary

It sits in the middle of a class B river. Dark water and strong currents surge all around it. Sharp rocks hide in the murky river; waiting to catch the unsuspecting foot. The island, surrounded by natural dangers and little fishes, has become my sanctuary. It’s like a description you’d hear from a fairy tale. A stream flows quietly through the middle of the island, splitting it in two. Little frogs, still getting used to their new bodies,

hop and swim around the shallows. Moss hangs off the weeping willows, and the soft muddy banks are imprinted

with little animal foot prints. As I wade down the stream, my feet slip slightly on the algae covered rocks. The water is just shallow enough that I have to squat a bit in order not to fall, and my toes accumulate a few scrapes along the way.

Once you get past all the hazards, you see absolute peace. There is a rock jutting out from one of the muddy banks. Inside the crevices, little bits of grass try to survive; red moss and a single flower also adorn a small place on the rock.

I curl up on the rock, and let one of my feet dangle carelessly into the gentle water. A cool breeze raises the hairs on my damp arm. Then, the hot sun chases it away.

When you look around you can see the sun making shadows with the tree’s leaves. They creep slowly over the water; they’re like awkward people at their first dance class. It’s funny because, as you’re swimming in the water, you can’t see the bottom. But when the light shines on it, you can see the water is completely clear and free of any monsters. Once you come to that realization, you relax, shut your eyes, and let the day roll on by.