Overhang
The ocean waves rocked, humming lullabies of our youth.
The sand squished between our toes as Azlin and I sprinted onto the beach. The ocean waves rocked, humming lullabies of our youth.
“Hey Penelope?” Azlin scooped an orange shovel into the sand. “Do you think they’ll make us get married out there one day?” Her face scrunched like she had shoved a handful of tart strawberries into her mouth. “What if the boys never look at us?”
My hands, damp from the sea, stayed busy molding a turret. I glanced at the enormous tower hanging over the cliff side, then at our mini-model. “I’ve seen a wedding before. They’re not held in the tower.” Confidence boomed through my voice while I decorated the castle with Moon shells.
“How?” Azlin asked, her brows raised. “And where?”
“Over in the Arbor Gardens.” I pointed at the ivy-covered trellis. “I peeked through the cracks. There’s a chapel out there too.”
We weren’t supposed to know about marriage. Calendra preserved innocence for a long time. They forced us to live sheltered, in a land of fireproof bubbles.
“Shoo!” My best friend griped at the Seagull hovering near our castle. With a sigh, she dusted sand flecks from her shorts. “I just want to know more.”
“We will.” I assured her. “They can’t lie forever. One day we’ll uncover the secrets.”
The bird screeched, then pecked at breadcrumbs on the shore. We lay back on a striped navy and white towel, letting our heads rest against each other’s. Two clouds resembling grey sailboats mashed together. As they split apart and exposed the sun, the warmth relaxed us. We dozed off, forgetting the restrictions netting us to reality.
A rattling sensation jerked us awake. Wheels beneath the train cart skidded down a rail line. Neon light bulbs buzzed against the black horseshoe shaped tunnel. They shone so bright, my eyes strained at passing blurry shapes.
“Where are we?” Azlin’s face appeared pale. Her hand reached for mine and gave it a tight squeeze.
“I’m not sure.” I gripped the leather seat and hoisted myself upright. “But we can find out.”
Rays of natural light spilled inside the vehicle as we emerged from the tunnel. From these heights, Calandra seemed like an ant colony. Microscopic and functional. The doors swung open. We exited, edging toward a hanging bridge. Made from bamboo and tangled roots, it went on forever. The clouds dropped low enough to reach up and touch them, fingers swiveling through the air. A black stairwell curled around the spire. The cream-colored bricks glossed in the light.
A ceramic shard fell from a cloud and landed on the vine-wrapped railing. It had sharp edges, as though it broke off from a larger piece of art. Azlin picked it up and handed it to me. Neither of us spoke while we studied it. We knew then. Calendra had been built above a subway system of dreams.
Rainfall splashed on our foreheads and rumbles of thunder echoed. Awake, we noticed the wind gusts knocked over some of the parasols and tipped beach chairs on their sides.
The dream shard bobbed around the moat we had carved around the base.
Our sandcastle stood there. Tall. Ornamental. And unscathed.
© 2025. Ally Campanozzi. All rights reserved. Overhang.
Nature and friendship are soft expressions in this writing. I like.