meghan sat on the beach
with her knees pulled up
to her chest
and her arms encircling her knees
her head lay
on her arms

small sobs shook her shoulders

her hair was wet and matted and
stuck to her back

what was she going to do
where were marion and laura

where was she

she rubbed her forehead against her arsm
and slowly brought her head up

the sun was gone and it was cooling down
she shivered,

she started to talk to herself
meghan, get a hold of yourself
you'll be all right.
laura and marion are all right
everything will be okay.

meghan raised her head opened and closed her eyes
and a low sigh escaped her lips
somewehre from deep within she found a chord and
cleared her head

her mind went quiet
the chattering stopped
the scareness within seemed to melt away
and meghan breathed in and out
in and out
that's what her mother would tell her to do
breathed in and out breathed in and out
that's right meghan, good girl.

quiety she got up
and looked around
it was getting dark and one or two stars were
starting to appear.

she looked to the left and saw what was left of the
boat
it had been literally cut in half
what stood before her was the front
and half of the underneath cabin

meghan took measured steps to the boat and
looked around to see if there was something she could use
she especially needed something to wear.

she stepped on board and looked for some water, food and
clothing.

she couldn't find any clothes but part of the mast was there
so she decided to use that as a piece of clothing
she knew that a knife was kept in the red toolbox underneat the
starboard seat and she lifted the seat

the red toolbox was there
thank you god

thank you god she said out loud

she pulled out the toolbox and laid it on the floor

she needed water and food but in her first try could find neither.

she used the knife and slit the white sail in a circle and cut it at the bottom
she made a poncho out of it.

the rest she tied around her waist and used as a skrt
it would do for the night.

the light was fading and as she looked around the boat she
caught a glimpse of marion's red water bottle
she prayed that there was some water in it
she was so thirsty

she unscrewed the cap and put the bottle to her lips
water gushed into her mouth and she licked her tongue
around her lips. thank you. thank you. she said out loud.

she screwed the top back on and decided she would sleep
on the boat that night.

she took her life jacket and made a pillow out of it
and prepared to spend the night under the stars.

she stared up at the sky
it was a warm night
thank goodness for that she said out loud.

she prayed that marion and laura were all right

she put her arms across her chest and found that
comfortable spot she always went to when she was a kid
and fell fast asleep.