Every summer, Sofia went to the same beach.
Same rock pool. Same bucket. Same slightly sandy sandwiches that somehow appeared every lunchtime no matter how carefully anyone packed them.
Sofia’s favourite part was the tide going out.
It left behind little pools. And shells. And tiny crabs who hid under pebbles and pretended they weren’t there.
Sofia always found them anyway. 🦀
🌊 Too Far Out
One afternoon, the tide went out further than Sofia had ever seen.
Further and further and further.
Until the sea was just a thin silver line way, way out.
And it didn’t come back.
One hour.
Two hours.
Sofia sat on a rock and hugged their knees.
“What if it doesn’t come back?” Sofia said to nobody.
“It will,” said a small sideways voice.
🦀 The Crab Who Knew
A crab sat in a tide pool right beside Sofia.
He had very serious eyes.
“I have lived in this pool for nine years,” said the crab. “The tide has gone out 6,570 times.”
“And?” said Sofia.
“And it has come back 6,570 times,” said the crab. “Not once has it forgotten.”
“But how do you know it will THIS time?”
The crab thought about this very seriously.
“I suppose I don’t know for absolutely certain,” he said. “But 6,570 is a very good reason to trust.”
Sofia looked out at the thin silver line.
It was a good answer. Not a perfect answer. But a good one.
💙 The Promise of the Sea
Just as the sun touched the cliffs, Sofia heard it.
A rushing sound.
A foaming sound.
Whoooosh.
The sea came flooding back across the sand — cool and certain and absolutely keeping its word.
Cold water swirled around Sofia’s ankles.
The crab disappeared under the foam.
“See you next time!” his small voice bubbled up.
Sofia stood in the water and laughed.
The tide always came back.
It had made a promise long before Sofia was born.
And it intended to keep it. 🌊