The Swan

By Mona Akra

She was standing at the edge of her wooden boat in the middle of the sea, her hair tickling her shoulders. She could feel something biting at her stomach – as if a little rat were living in there, eating her up inside. What was going on? She could not really tell as the tears took a walk down her cheeks. Something had gone wrong… something just was not right.

As her misty eyes scanned the beautiful greenery around her, and as she felt the coolness of the wind on her cheeks, she tried to smile.

At that instant, a huge, beautiful, white swan appeared to her right. She stroked its head, and it emitted warmth – warmth that entered through her fingers and spread through her body. She climbed out of the boat and sat sideways on the swan… her head rested on its long neck.

It took her away… her feet in the water left little microscopic waves and bubbles… a sort of road in the water that faded away the farther on the swan moved.

They journeyed on… The swan did not get tired.

Her tears dried, and a mist started to grow. It hid her from the world… it hid the world from her. The boat remained where she had left it. Unmoving, frozen, cold. On and on they moved. Further and further on – not stopping, not even for a single moment.

The swan suddenly looked at her. And she could see meaning in its eyes.

It started shaking her off, softly. With love. As if it were telling her: Don’t worry. You have watched me do it long enough. You can do it yourself now. Swim! I won’t leave your side! Swim!!! Have faith, don’t worry!

She stood up, and jumped heads on in the water. It was freezing, and it was great. It refreshed her. She could feel it spread inside her…

And side by side, they swam. Side by side, they left the delusional colors of the world. Side by side. Never did the swan leave her side, and never did she get tired.

And eventually – she and the swan became one.