Just stop and think for a minute. Not about anything, no. Take a minute and just think about water.

Water is a part of a human being's day to day life. Without it, humans die. Simple science.

There is more to water than just what people drink. It can come from almost anywhere in many different forms. The world is covered in about 70% water the other 30% being land.

Now imagine that you are sitting on a beach. The sand is soft beneath you as the is sun setting in the distance and everyone has left, leaving you to be the last one on the beach.

The water is at a high low tide, the fading sun causing the sky to look like an acrylic painting.

You are sitting close enough to the ocean so that the small waves hit your bare feet before receding back into the ocean.

There is something that is simply so entrancing about the calm water.

The aesthetically pleasing surroundings lull you into a state of relaxation. All of your muscles are relaxed, almost sleep like. You feel light and peaceful.

The temptation to wade out into the ocean is tempting. The memory of walking through small waves as they come rolling towards shore crosses your mind.

A smile ghosts your face as you take a deep breath, letting the small of the fresh salty waves fill your senses.

The waves seem to be receding further as well as the ocean. Any wave coming in barely touching your feet now.

Needing to feel the waves on your feet, you stand. Walking into the ocean, letting the cool water cascade to your calf. You wade out until you are knee deep in the water.

You watch the sun as it seemingly falls into the water, waiting for the moon to come out and take its place.

The wet sand your standing on sinks your feet, letting the sand go in between your toes. Small pokes at your feet come from small rocks and shells in the sand. You don't mind as you hardly feel them.

The setting sun lures you a step further into the ocean as the faint wind nips at your skin. The air getting colder as the sun takes its warmth with it.

Another step further into the ocean. You can feel the gentle breeze tussle your hair as you reach knee deep into the water.

You could swear it was just your imagination, but the waves feel as if they are trying to pull you back to the shore with them. Shaking the thoughts from your head you take another step.

The extra strings to the anklet you are wearing tickle the back of your calf as you take another step further into the ocean. The further you go the calmer you feel. The water seems to bring warmth to your body as it encases your legs, leaving your arms to begin collecting goosebumps.

Another step in and you are thankful you left your shorts on the beach. You are now waist deep.

Small waves knock into your stomach as you admire the way the clouds look against the fading sky.

A chilly breeze slides against your wet stomach sending a shiver up your spine. You take another step, your stomach going under the water, keeping the breeze from nipping at it.

Just the top of the sun is sticking out of the water now. You briefly wonder how long you could have possibly been in the water.

Glancing at the shore you can see your porch lights to your house on the beach still on. Wonder if the warmth of your house would be better than the warmth you were receiving from the water, your eyes flicker from the vanishing sun to your house.

With a hint of hesitance, you turn back to the setting sun and take another step into the ocean. The safe and warm feeling reassuring your decision.

You take another step.

The warmth of the water goes all the way up your chest as the water sits right where your neck starts. The next wave that washes over you mats your hair to your head.

Any worry about the fact that the waves coming in were now over your head held no concern to you. The warmth it brought was welcoming and if you thought you could hold your breath for more than a minute you would have stuck your head under the water.

Instead, after the next wave rolls over your face, you take another step. Your chin is now constantly touching the water. You feel even more relaxed then you did when you were on the beach with the waves lightly cascading over your feet. You wonder what would happen if you took another step.

Looking back, you can still make out the lights on your porch, although they are definitely a lot further away than they had been last time you looked.

You glance back at where the sun had been setting. Now all that's left are the colors slowly seeping themselves into the horizon, the round sun barely seen. You squint towards the horizon line, trying to make out even the tiniest bit of the sun. Then you try and lean forward to help in your quest of seeing the last of the setting sun.

You take one last step. Just one more. You pick up your foot, pulling it through the water that sees to want to hold you back, pushing past the waves that trying to pull you back too. The path of the water is rushing towards the shore as if trying to run away from something.

The thought of running away from the water seems to make you want to laugh. The water is safe and warm. So you ignore the water resisting your movements and push through the water, taking, One. Last. Step.

~*~*~*~

This short story was inspired by what I thought to be my best work in my Creative Writing class. It was the second prompt we had. The prompt about water. I believe water to be such a powerful force yet so mysterious as well. I still don't think I did water as much justice as it deserves. I absolutely love water. I love rain and the ocean and thunderstorms. I weary of some lake, but other than that I absolutely love water. It is only right that my final story is about it.