While surfing the web I came across a painting titled Island of Shells. It reminded me of Barbados, my birth island. I ran my fingers across the screen, conjuring up childhood memories of my first swimming lesson. That day, the sea was as blue and as calm as the artist’s rendition. I could hear my father’s voice, see his outstretched arms. “Come into the sea, don’t be afraid.” I skipped towards the water, jumped in, and continued walking until I could no longer feel the soft sand beneath my feet. “Paddle, paddle,” he said. Outside, snowdrops danced in the wind.
Evena Gottschalk is a Barbadian-Canadian writer and storyteller. Find Evena on Instagram @eworrell24.