Keo floated alone in the cove on a tube, the gentle rocking from the passing skiff a soothing sensation beneath him. He watched as Sonny’s dad released him near the shore, a familiar rhythm of life unfolding. An eager surge of excitement filled Keo as he spotted Sonny frolicking in the shallows, anticipation building when Sonny called out for him to join. With every moment that passed, Keo felt the tug of the ocean—a call to deeper waters, a chance to showcase his swimming skills.
He could see Sonny’s enthusiasm radiating as he swam out, the water glistening around him. “Come on out!” he urged, his voice a mixture of challenge and joy. Yet, Keo hesitated, his feet planted in the safety of the sand. The cool waves lapped against him, but uncertainty held him back, arms hanging limply at his sides.
As the teasing word “chicken” echoed across the cove, Keo felt a flush of embarrassment creeping up his cheeks. He glanced at Sonny, who was flapping his arms like a clucking hen, laughter ringing out over the water. Overcoming his hesitation, he took a deep breath and waded in—each step feeling monumental, battling his fears with each inch deeper into the ocean.
The moment his feet left the sandy bottom and he began to swim, something within him shifted. The ocean awakened a latent energy; the coolness invigorated his movements, transforming hesitation into exhilaration with frantic kicks and splashes. They swirled around each other, the joy of the water enveloping them. Keo caught a glimpse of Sonny’s dad on the pier, a proud smile etched on his face, making Keo’s own heart swell with shared joy.
In that moment, floating alongside Sonny, Keo could feel the freedom of the sea. His strokes came naturally, as if the ocean were an extension of himself. Times like these felt effortless, idyllic, a sanctuary from anything troubling.
When the swim came to an end and they finally climbed back onto their tubes, exhaustion washed over Keo, mingling with contentment. He hung over the edge of the tube, the gentle sea cradling him. He looked toward the beach, spotting Dad walking toward them, pride shining as he praised Sonny for his triumph. For a fleeting moment, Keo was caught in a tumult of emotions—a pang of confusion nagged him as attention shifted from their playful moment in the water to whatever plans lay ahead.
Everything shifted further when news broke: Sonny was moving in with Dad by the beach. As they stood together in their shared room, a bittersweet feeling enveloped Keo. He grappled with his emotions—the confusion settled heavily in his chest alongside an unwelcome sadness. Wasn’t Sonny supposed to be nearby, always ready for the next adventure? Aunty Pearl’s tears brushed against his cheek as she held him tight, her words ringing hollow despite their comforting intent—Sonny would still visit.
Keo longed for those carefree days, where the weight of the world barely existed. The vibrant cove and laughter-filled splashes began to blur, fused with the complex feeling of change. He wanted to understand, to accept this new reality, and yet all he could grasp were the remnants of what had been—a yearning to hold onto the simplicity of childhood amid the unfolding unknown.