Victory Lap

I grow weary. I’ve been scanning the shoreline since dawn, haggling over bottom-feeders, swept ashore by last night’s tide. There must be more, but where are they hiding?

[She mused that perhaps she’d lost her mojo; that her age would inevitably push her into depending on others for sustenance, or worse, she’d be swallowed whole by a sudden shark-leap or pulled, gasping, to the bottom of the sea. She dismissed that thought, as if merely by thinking it, it would be true.]

Look at me…I am beautiful…I am strong…I am wise; wise enough to sense the life teeming beneath that distant swell, just out of reach.

Wait for it to roll nearer.
Climb!
Swoop!
Ascend once more!

[Gathering all her strength she soared upward, then swooped gracefully – as gracefully as she’d ever been. Her span and the sleek silhouette of her wingspan against the burning, orange sun rising above the horizon, created a perceptible frenzy on shore, as all stopped to marvel at her magnificence.]

I’m an old pro. I have stature, breadth of span, timing and wisdom, where the rest only have speed and flexibility.

I soar again and dive, daring to delve into the about-to-break swell.
With precision and grace I pause to strike; and for a moment, I’m immersed in the briny breaker.
Just as quickly, I escape with my prey, as the suds continue their rush to shore.

Success! I’ve charged forward to seize my destiny, while others wait and wade on shore.

Today, I am exhilarated and rejuvenated.
Today, I’ve earned the right to face this day, as I take my victory lap.
Today, I’m victorious!

Tomorrow, I’ll fight the survival game again.
Tomorrow will come.
Tomorrow!

🐠🐠🐠🐠🐠

Written in response to Studio30P prompt:

UNIQUE and/or SWELL
(for swell, you can go with the ocean swell with image below or the adjective)