The Drive

The beaming Pacific Ocean flanked the driver's side of
his car. He had been driving for a few hours now. He
was heading north but it wasn't to anywhere in particular.
He hadn't told anyone where he was going either. He
just left. There had been a restlessness in him in recent
days that he could not explain away. A fidgety unease
that had attached itself to his life. His work had ceased
being fulfilling some time ago. His friendships were
all good and pleasant. He didn't worry much about
money unlike many people he knew. He was in a
fortunate position but an untenable one. This unease
had crept into everything. The more he thought about
it the less of an answer he had. Do I abandon everything?
Do I keep everything? What must be changed? What
could still be gained? The frustration was there staring
at him with unbroken eyes. Even now on such a day
these thoughts held on. He eventually pulled off the
highway to gas up. It was one of those small gas stations
that existed in the seemingly endless stretches of
emptiness that dotted the landscape. After he was done,
instead of getting back onto the freeway he headed
west down a road, hoping to hit the beach. The occasional
house dotted the land in between vast fields. He could
smell the scent of salted air grow stronger the further
he went. At last the road opened up and faced the vast
ocean. He slowed and pulled over on the shoulder.
He got out of the car and began to walk towards the
sand. The only other person he could see was a woman
walking a dog. It had been a very long time he had
this much space to himself at a beach. The beaches
back home were usually filled with people most of the
year. Plus there would be bars, restaurants, and all
the other trappings of consumerist culture nearby.
Not here. Here was still as pure as it could be. He took
off his shoes and socks and let his feet touch the warm
sand. It felt as though his body had just lit up. He got
closer and closer to the water until at last he stood on
wet sand. The tide came in gently and washed over
his feet sending a chill through his nerves and giving
him gooseflesh. It didn't take long for his feet to get
used to the water. Once it did he could feel it's warmth.
He closed his eyes and tried to focus his breathing.
He began to feel more whole. His body began to relax.
Soon enough time faded. The waves were the only
thing left in the world that mattered. Soon enough
he himself disappeared into what he sought.