Changing Tide

I fell asleep with the taste of salt water on my lips. In the depths of sleep, huge quivering sighs sought to escape. There was no room to breath, my head was submerged. I had lost my oxygen tank and I was running out of room to breathe. With each gasp I held the tears at bay, just barely. Beneath the surface of stoic passivity, the clouds were rumbling, heralding the coming storm. A storm I was too helpless to contain, as the barrier had been broken. My face streaked with tears, silently coursing down my cheeks. Was it only yesterday that those same cheeks shone so rosily, lips upturned from a huge smile, from joy that refused to be hidden? How quickly the tide turned. One minute perfect waves for surfing, the next turbulent tidal waves crashing, breeching the shore line to demolish the sand castle that once stood majestic.