A beautiful day to go to the falls

In a world gone mad, he was still sane. Or at least he thought he was, until today. Today was the kind of day that tests the boundaries of one’s limits.

It was a beautiful spring day, the kind you imagine on dreary winter day when your soul longs for hope. He had a long-awaited day off with his current girlfriend. Current, key word. He wasn't at all sure it would last. In fact, he was pretty sure they had almost reached the end. It had become too complicated. But for today they would share the glorious sunshine and to all the world they would like a happy couple enjoying a splendid day.

It was a two-hour drive to the falls, according to all the travel sites it was the most spectacular ones in the Pacific Northwest. It would be a pleasant drive, small talk, avoiding anything significant. Then taking in the majestic gift of nature would surely make the awkwardness smooth over like frosting on a hot cake.

They arrived, found a place to park and grabbed the supplies. Water, sunglasses, phones, for the cameras, to take those oh so important pictures for social media. Had to look like you were living your best life, even if you weren’t.

They walked to the observation point- there it was. It really was magnificent. As he gazed at its powerful presence, his thoughts wandered back to its history. Born of the ice age floods it had been here longer than any living being on the earth today. In a way it too was alive, holding the secret of the eons in its thundering specter; it held the secrets of the past that no one could access. He wished he could tap into it.

They walked away from the approved viewing area toward what appeared to be walking trails. There were so many people walking on the aimless trails, and they could see trails below that were much closer the falls. There were people there as well.

She was on her phone, perhaps attempting to find a signal. The attempt was in vain as there was no signal to be had at the park. He was walking down the path in an effort to see the way to get to the trails below. As he leaned toward the edge, for a brief moment he felt the rocks slide, then before he could reposition his feet, he was falling.

It all happened so quickly. It felt like he blacked out for a moment and when he came to it was as if he was in a different dimension. He was definitely under water, it felt cool and refreshing. His eyes glanced around, and took in a different world. There were some coins, a few shoes and shiny silver locket. It was in the shape of a heart; it must have been precious to someone before it was lost in this watery burial ground. Or perhaps it had been thrown in to the bottom of the falls by a broken-hearted lover to join the forever of the falls. And apparently that is where he was now too, in the forever.

When he looked up, he could see frantic people on the trail above. They looked distraught. Where was she? He could not see her. Was she ok? Like a voyeur he observed the chaos. What could be the problem? Soon things got quiet, then the people were gone, and it was getting dark and yet he inexplicably stayed right there in the water. It was fine.

In what seemed like a moment and yet also an eternity, he saw light again. More people. More chaos. He could feel movement in the water, people swimming around him, but they could not see him. How odd. He was right there. Hands reaching toward him, grabbing at the water, searching with their fingertips.

And then with such feverish urgency he felt hands on his arm. They tugged at him and he came free. And as his body was pulled from the water. As he body broke the surface, his spirit broke away and rejoined the forever.

He was free. It felt exhilarating! So this was it, this was the forever. He joined those before him, and those in front of him. His spirit expanded until he was a vast as the Universe. He was as old as the ice age floods and as new as the morning. And now he knew for sure he was sane.