That Quiet Time When I Was Only Looking at the Sea

Before the woman appeared, I was simply looking at the sea. My mind was quiet.

It was a wide beach. Gentle waves, a distant horizon, a cloudy sky. The black-and-white frame held no special event. I was only standing there, looking at the sea.

Just looking

The sea opened wide. An endless horizontal space. I did not try to fill it. In a low and quiet temperature, I stayed as I was, letting time flow slowly.

My feet rested on the sand. My eyes reached toward the distant lighthouse and island. I was in no hurry. There was no urge to move forward, nor any desire to stop. I was simply looking.

What entered by chance

Suddenly a woman’s silhouette walked into view. A seagull passed through the sky. Neither was something I had sought. The original scene was just me looking at the sea. They entered by chance and stayed only briefly.

I did not follow the woman. I did not chase the seagull. The moment remained low and quiet. The slow flow of time did not change.

The space of staying

The photograph does not explain anything. It does not declare a special feeling. It only leaves the state of that moment as it was.

In front of the wide open sea, in a low and quiet temperature, staying still while time flowed slowly.

That was enough.