(Viewpoint: Chetan)
The sand slips through my fingers.
Grain by grain.
I draw a line. It disappears almost immediately, carried away by a wave too slow to be violent.
I'm not even watching.
I feel right.
The salt on my skin. The warmth of the sun. The hollow feeling in my stomach.
Still empty.
Beside me, Eugène regains his composure. His hand is still resting on my shoulder. Heavy. Trembling.
I lower my eyes slightly towards her.
Then I move it away. Gently. Without looking at it.
– …I'm going.
My voice is low. Worn.
I straighten up immediately.
A quick movement.
advancing towards the water without hesitation this time.
He doesn't follow me.
He remained seated, impassive.
I'm watching.
The shore. The surface. The moving reflections.
I enter the water gently.
One step. Then another, I'm not going too far.
The cold.
But hunger doesn't allow me to back down.
I'll continue.
My hands plunge beneath the surface. They hesitate.
Nothing.
Just tiny bodies, so small they slipped further away when I tried to grab them.
The water splashes.
I breathe out slightly.
- …anything…
But I don't look away and I start again.
Again.
Again.
My actions so bad?
The water always closes before him.
I run a hand over my face, which is damp with sweat.
I straighten up slightly.
My muscles are protesting in pain.
But they are not ready.
Not yet.
– I'm HUNGRY HAAAAAAAAAA.
Shouting was almost pleasant.
Eugene is getting closer.
Just enough to see.
– Can you at least see them?
I don't have time to reply.
My eyes follow something underwater.
A movement. Quick.
He plunges his arms in.
CLAP ! .
Nothing.
I sit up. Breathe harder.
– …it's moving too fast.
He shrugs.
- Obviously.
He turns his head towards me.
Just a moment.
Then he goes into the water.
I look at him and let him stand in front of me.
And-
TACK!
He grabs it and throws it far away onto the sand.
– yes sssss
I jump.
But my gaze quickly slid to the side.
Further away.
Rome.
Still here.
Fortunately .
I stare at him for a few seconds and ignore him.
- …useless…
Eugene bends down and throws another
– how do you do it
He turned and looked at me with a smile.
– …is there a problem? …
But before I could finish, he pulled me in and plunged us into the water.
A hollow sound.
SPLASH !
Eugene ventured further into the water.
Laughing out loud
I look behind me and follow him with the same smile.
– …you want to play this game …
splashing water on his face.
He replies joyfully, I chase him into the water and plunge him underneath, he comes out and pulls my foot
Again and again and again
But hunger returned to my mind and I ran out towards the sand
– COME EAT
He looks at the water.
Then me.
Then he leaves.
Reluctantly.
He returns, slightly shuffling his feet.
- …All right …
Even if he hesitates.
– it's still strange though…
I don't even look at it.
– Do you have a better idea?
Silence.
He sighs.
– …no…
I put one foot down.
Then the other one made room for him beside me.
This thing dried, the sand came away with a simple breath.
"Enjoy your meal," I said quietly, as if it were a crime.
" You too, enjoy your meal," he replied in return.