After all this time? Always

That morning, I woke up to the familiar sound of seagulls and the summer breeze. The sky was Pantone 2727U, the kind of colour that makes you feel alive. It was a beautiful morning.

I always wanted to live by the sea. People born and raised in these idyllic corners of the earth seem a whisker happier. Pretty sure even that life comes with its own problems, but I got a feeling that even though it moves slowly- it never moves backwards.

Went down the hill into town (soul got happy and stayed all day). Narrow streets and all the little shops were about to open. I headed to Sky’s Diner for some cream tea (jam + cream, when in Cornwall) and got a few Cornish pasties for later.

I got talking to an older lady. At first glance, she looked like a sad woman whose happy days never happened. I couldn’t be more wrong. She was busy living and always has been. She was an embodiment of good old carpe diem, so at ease and present. My fencing coach, who’s been fencing for 54 years, told me that fencing is the second-fastest sport after shooting. It is an elegant combat sport that requires unapparelled patience, discipline, finesse and endurance. Once I step on the piste, I own the moment, and the moment owns me, nothing else matters, but two fencers at that moment. Most freedom I have ever felt. Want to become more present- drop all the self-help books, go out and do things.

Later on, I went fishing for mackerel, loved it.  Came back had my pasty and some ice cream. Then I went swimming in the sea. As I swam far offshore, I could not stop looking around me and doing all I can to make sure I have that moment, that afternoon, that day for life. The water was so fresh, cold, tranquil and blue. I swear it felt like the sea itself got hold of me and was cradling me. I could have stayed there forever, exalted in the scene.

When I got to the shore, dried off a little, I looked at all the grains of sand stuck to my feet. Someone once said that there are more atoms in a grain of sand than stars in the observable universe. Astrophysics isn’t my domain of expertise, but that certainly gave some good perspective on space and time. I was right there at that time, and I didn’t miss a thing—carpe diem.

Sun was setting. I looked up and saw a little old chapel on the hill. There I went. I sat on a rock on the edge of a cliff, watching the sun calmly setting over the horizon whilst we blissfully spin at 67 000 miles per hour. The sunset was ‘once in a lifetime’. I can’t describe it; there is no combination of words that could accurately depict that kind of beauty.

The 16th of July 2021 was the happiest day of my life. It was perfect. I could go on and write a book about it, but I would just be doubling down on the same notion, a physical symbol of sentiment, happiness and tranquillity. Some things can’t be described, they can only be felt.

Written by:
Anastasia Martel

Anastasia Martel

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