Like a Diamond in the Sky

“What you focus on grows,” she said as they walked along the city street, in an unfamiliar but appealing neighborhood where dogs barked and children rode bicycles.

Some called this place paradise, she called it home away from home. Even though she didn't know this particular area, she knew others like it, knew the people. She felt comfortable, and what she focused on was the diamond in the sky, which despite her admonition did not grow.

“How do you mean?” he asked. There was a store around here that sold fresh fish. It had a great reputation but was easy to miss, being surrounded by humble houses on a hillside overlooking the ubiquitous ocean. He stared at his phone, hoping it would reveal great mysteries, such as where the store was. But it only hinted at the truth, and he stumbled over a crack in the sidewalk, broke his momma's back.

“One life,” she replied, “don't waste it.”

He paused in his tracks and looked up at the hills ahead. She'd said that to him before, many times. Somehow he never quite believed it. He understood the words, as sounds coming from her mouth, but their meaning didn't resonate with him in the way he knew it should.

“Sure,” he said, “but do you know where the fish store is?”

She looked at the clouds, which held the threat of rain but no answers to his question. She looked at him and grew distraught at his distress. What had she gotten herself into this time?

“Not really,” she said. “Did you feel drops?”

He held out his hand. It stayed dry. “No, did you?”

“I thought I might have, maybe not.”

She kept focusing on the clouds and hoped for rain.