Forehead to Forehead

The one who came out of the sea

breathed
before she spoke.

Hwee.

A long
breath out.

It was like a song,

and like a cry.

One of them asked,

“Are you all right?”

There was no answer.

There are days when “all right”

is too big a word.

The one who had asked

came closer.

Their shoulders
touched.

One
bowed her head.

The other
bowed hers just as far.

The two foreheads
touched.

One's breath
was still fast.

The one beside her

lowered her shoulders

and let out a long breath.

The other
breathed out with her.

Hwee.

This time

a little shorter.

The sea

came up to the foot of the rock

and drew back.

After a while

one of them said,

“We'll have to go in
tomorrow too.”

“We will.”

Even after saying it

the two of them

rested a moment longer,

forehead to forehead.