‘I turned and saw the sea washing away my foot prints, and for some reason I felt suddenly so very sad, it was as though the sea was washing away my life.’

Hello its Steve Clifford

A few days ago we went to the seaside.

It was a blisteringly hot day.

After looking round the shops and having some dinner we walked to the beach, and sat in the sun. Margaret had a book with her and as reading avidly. I just sat and looked at the sea.

It was lovely.

The crowds began to disperse but we sat there we were in no rush to go home.

I said ‘I’m just gonna have a walk down to the sea’

Margaret nodded still engrossed in her book, it was one of Dilly Courts of which she had read most.

I got up and began to walk slowly towards the sea, it was about a hundred and fifty yards away, I was about half way there and I turned and looked at my foot prints in the sand and gave Margaret a wave, who by chance had looked up and returned the wave.

I continued on towards the sea, it looked cool and inviting, as I got to the edge the water it lapped over my feet, the tide was on the turn and with each lap it encroached up the beach a few inches.

I stood there for what seemed like ages just watching the sea creep up my ankles, it was blissful, it was quiet it was so peaceful, I turned and saw the sea washing away my foot prints, and for some reason I felt suddenly so very sad, it was as though the sea was washing away my life. I looked around me and there was no one on the beach, I was totally alone, a looked back and Margaret had vanished, I have never felt such dread, such fear, I looked all around, to my left to my right she had gone, I began to panic, tears were streaming down my face, the sea was still washing away my footprints what was happening?

I looked around again back out to sea, there were no seagulls squawking, just nothing not another soul nearby I was crying now the fear and dread was overwhelming I looked back to where Margaret had been, …….and there she was just where I had left her, still reading her book.

I found out later she had nipped back to the car to get something.

The dread the panic the fear just left me.

I couldn’t understand what had happened I began making my way up the back towards her. It took me some time, I was exhausted as I got nearer she looked up, ‘you ok?

I nodded

‘you been crying’

‘no it’s the wind down there’

We went back to the car and drove home, but it will take some time, dementia or not to rid my brain of the feelings I had on that beach .