One day in March, last year, as I walked along the shore of the river, the sun shone on the quiet waters, streaking the river with a trail of silver-gold glitter. It was as though the sun had dipped itself in the water and left behind a bit of itself.

Then, across that stream of glitter, a lone Canada goose glided. Confident. Unabashed. Like nothing was out of the ordinary and this magic moment of glittering goose having a sun-bath—caught in the glitter stream—was just part of its normal day.

“Stop right there! Don’t look, says the goose. Do not let yourself immerse in the fascinating silver light! But I cannot not look! I hear the call of the siren. She is floating not too far, just waiting for me. I shed my worldly clothes heavy with worries and restrictions; I take one step in, two, three…Ohhh! The water is warm and caressing. Memories of being loved, cared for, loved, gently rocked, loved … in the womb? I am one with the hypnotic river. I feel the motion of the waves, synchronize my heart to it. I smell the underwater green safe space, home of numerous living creatures, plants, fish, insects. I am at home now, Goose! My name is Luminita, ‘little light’ and my light blends with the river light! Did you try to stop me because you knew that this will challenge me to go right in? But who am I to guess what the magic goose thinks?”

Luminita Serbanescu