I opened my eyes when her hand left mine. She was running. Three useless steps and I stopped, feet in the soft sand.

Behind me, the packed sand widened with the ebbing tide, our footprints still there where we had moved together.

I closed my eyes again, savoring the dance.

Jim Hartsell is a retired educator, living on the southwest slope of House Mountain. He divides his time as he sees fit – writing, making music, learning how to be a grandparent.