understand

Sophie was not deliberately committing suicide. More of a graceful exit from society than anything else. A society that could understand her only as numbers in a bank account--and then the wrong bank account at that!--obviously did not deserve the pleasure of her company.

Sophie sat in the sharp creek stones, the water reaching her knees. This would not drown her, but would cause the slow hypothermia, the death by cold when you did not even remember that you were cold.

But the hypothermia was taking far too long. So she leaned back into the water and let it cover her body. Her hands clung to the rocks as her head struck the hard, slick rocks under the riffles. She reviewed the accounts in her mind for a final time.

When the girl on the phone first told her they had to deny her credit, to deny her identity, she had called her Anna. But when Sophie told her her name, the girl suddenly took on a harsher tone, faster, as if caught in the act. As if there had been some dishonest mistake over the whole mess. Then her tone turned subtly threatening, as if getting rid of Sophie would be the only possible answer to this embarrassing gap.

Sophie understood then. But could not prove it. Nonetheless, she knew. She clutched at the slippery rocks and heaved herself up into the air. Understanding thiswas not enough. If she knew what to do, she would stay. But she didn't.

in water / breathe deep-- / understand / that there can be / no differences between / air and water / symbol / and symbolized

the word is / the sound / of water / dripping from/ ancient symbols / tiny particles / of merging / realities

Follow us all: Amy/Anna, Sophie/Yuki, Kit/Richard, minor characters or sift through water leavings and river journeys.