The Pier (Short Story)

 

Everyone has a coming of age story some are happy, some are sad and some are just a story of the times. Then ending is all the same we learn from the experience and grow as people my coming of age story might be different than others or it might be the same. It starts later than others in my mid-twenties and lasted only a few hours. I had never seen the ocean before growing up in the middle of my country and never venturing to the coast but I always dreamed of sitting on a pier and watching the tides come and go.

My story takes place a long time ago on a warm July night. I traveled to the coast for the first time in my life and smelled the fresh sea air. The day was filled with excitement. I went and explored the coastal city which was an average city with malls and markets. I climbed to the top of the highest hill in the city and snapped pictures with my phone to brag about my trip later on after it was over. I ate regional treats but won't lie I had fast food for lunch. The day was hot and tiring but was fun. The sun was going down and I grabbed a beer at a small convenience and watched people walk down the street minding their business and getting ready for the night ahead. The cold beer was delicious and just what I needed after a long day of acting like a tourist. The store employee came outside and made small chat with me. We talked about the area and he recommended some sights to visit. I thanked him for the recommendations and went back to watching the people. It's a calming effect to sit and watch people just walk down the street. They live their lives and most likely you will never see them again other than the quick glance of them passing by it really puts the whole world into perspective. I finished my beer and got up and headed for the beach.

The beach was beautiful. The sun had gone down and the sky was filled with the neon lights of the buildings adjacent to the beach and the lamp post gave a memorizing glare. The sand was warm and felt good between my toes. I walked down the beach towards a pier. The pier was cement and went out at least 100 yards into the ocean. I approached the pier which had a no trespassing sign at the beginning of it. I ignored the sign and walked down the pier towards the end. I could see a man sitting on the pier and it looked like he was eating some kind of soup. I passed by him and gave him a friendly look and headed towards the end of the long cement path. I reached the end which had no barrier or fence and sat down with my feet over the edge. The night air was warm with the sweet smell of the ocean. My favourite song went through my head while I was sitting on the edge. The occasional fish would jump and provide a spectacular sight. I was in total bliss with this immaculate scene, this would be one of those memories that would last a life time. I must of sat their for hours just gazing at the ocean and the sky.

The man who was eating came up to me and spoke in a language I didn't know much of but I could see he had a bottle of beer and gestured for me to drink. I thanked him opened the beer. The man sat beside me and tried to express his love for the ocean from what I could understand. The man was older maybe in his sixties. We drank together just gesturing and enjoying the time. The man smiled and thanked me which I understood. He said in English this was the most fun he had in awhile and to enjoy life to its fullest. The man got up and walked away. I sat there for a few more minutes when I heard a loud bang. I got up and turned around to find the man I had just sat with lying on the pier. I ran to the man who had shot himself with a pistol. The sound gathered attention and after awhile the police arrived.

The police knew the man to be an old homeless man who nobody paid attention too. I had never seen a dead body before this. The old man had shot himself in the temple but had a smile on his face. I never told the police about our interaction and they just thought he was an old suicidal man. This night is engraved in my memory. The man who no one cared for felt complete just for a few minutes with me and then ended it all. I will never forget his face and always try to bring happiness to everyone no matter what their situation. This is my coming of age story.