I had walked down the familiar path to the water's edge many times. I have come down here to clear my head. To find some of the tranquility that had become a stranger. This night seemed no different.
The moon was full, surrounded by thousands of stars on this cloudless night. I watched a small breeze as it rippled the mirror-like surface of the bay. Warm air swept past me as I sat down on the old familiar driftwood log. I leaned against a large boulder, closed my eyes and listened to the motion of the water against the rocks; the rhythm soothed me.
Some time had passed before I opened my eyes and noticed that the moon was no longer visible. Dark clouds had completely covered the sky. The air was heavy and still. I tried to estimate how long I had been asleep, but I was not sure.
Surrounded by clouds and a gray mist that appeared from nowhere, I lit up a cigarette. For a moment, the flame of the match blinded me. A sudden burst of wind extinguished it. I sat there quietly until my eyes readjusted, and I listened to the loud thunder of my heartbeat.
This is ridiculous, there is nothing here, I told myself. My heartbeat returned to normal. I glanced around; the red glow illuminated the ground in front of me. I took another draw from my smoke. I neither saw nor heard anything except for the strong wind that whistled through the trees.
I got ready to leave when I thought I heard footsteps behind me. I ran for cover behind the boulder and waited to see what would happen.
It did not take very long.
Just beyond the edge of the clearing, I could see a beam of blue light. It appeared to be some kind of lantern. The light source approached, and I could see that somebody held it. Whether it was male or female, I could not tell. The fog hid its identity.