I exhaust my arsenal of survival strategies too soon. My spirit depleted, your clever ruses skew my sense of worthiness.
Changing tactics, I keep to the shallows where my choices are clear. Accustom to playing your mind games and navigating your sins of omission, my last chance at victory is the uncomplicated truth. A secret weapon you won’t expect this late in our hostilities.
I break the surface, coming up for air. Fortified, I take a last look back, gauging your apathy toward my pending escape, and do the only thing left for me to do…
…head for open water.
*Photo venue: Henderson Beach State Park, Destin, FL
Thin spiral notebook 
Great metaphor. Freedom is what most living creatures strive for.
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sins of omission . . . they are the ones that generally bite us when we least expect. This is a beautiful piece, Tara.
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Such economy of language. I love navigating your sins of omission.. the whole thing works beautifully – for many different circumstances.
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That uncomplicated truth is not so easy to follow. Nicely done.
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I love the dance of deceit going on here. A couple in trouble? Fisherman and fish? It’s so hard to say. I love the possibilities. I think you want “accustomed” not “accustom” here 🙂
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Forget finding nemo, how about Enlightening Nemo. The opening lines are gorgeous and the way you worked the metaphor was artistic.
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Love this metaphor; it’s a unusual one in this context but works so well.
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What fantastic opening lines & a powerful piece ,leaving the reader craving for more.Loved the subtle message at the ending-intelligent writing once again Tara:-)
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A secret weapon you won’t expect this late in our hostilities.
Contrast this with the underdog tone of the rest of the piece. Devastating!
Here’s to clear swimming to the open water.
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Gorgeous words. “My last chance at victory is the uncomplicated truth.” Well done.
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