I played by the sea, feet in brown sand, honey-smooth. Cool waves tickled the backs of my knees, sometimes reaching my chubby thighs, sometimes the bottom of my light green swimsuit. Giddy, carefree, careless. Monstrous wave crashed from behind. Knocked me down, tossed me over. Broadsided, hurled, flipped into a somersault, scraping my face. Even now I  taste salt.

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By Ann Hermone