Beyond those was a stretch of sand and miles of dark blue sea. You couldn't make out a thing on the other side. As a little girl, Maggie believed that the world dropped off out there, that if you swam far enough you might fall into a starry sky.
In this excerpt, the scene is set with a stretch of sand and vast dark blue sea, creating a sense of mystery and the unknown. The narrator describes how the horizon is indistinguishable, emphasizing the limitless nature of the ocean and the mystery beyond it.
The quote reveals a childhood belief held by Maggie, imagining that beyond the sea, the world might end and lead into a starry sky. This reflects themes of wonder, curiosity, and the innocent imagination of childhood, imagining a connection between the earth and the universe.
