A Moment In History; A Favorite

By Suhaylah Sirajul-Islam

knee deep wading in the water.
September 22nd, 2018.
do you remember?

laughter and cloudy bright blue skies
our wind strewn hijabs matching the mess
of our salt water soaked maxi dresses—
it’s bliss.

our faces are flushed with happiness
bodies shivering, both cold and warm
as the sunlight hits the water,
wet sand curling beneath our toes
you are a stranger to me.

my friends decide to go farther.
they scream as the waves push them back
and i topple

do you remember?
how my hands dropped the bunched up skirt
as i fell

my wrist burns.

“Woah,
I got you.”
you say,

and i’m left staggering onto you.