The Beach

I settle into my chair, I have a drink and my book beside me. A slight breeze cools the air from the hot summer sun. I have found the best, private spot that no one will be able to reach. I have put up signs and made the path to this spot confusing and dense. Surely no one will be able to find it; if they do, they will give up before they can reach me.

I am safe here. In the past, I have led others to my special spots, and they ruined them. They made it too messy or brought others into MY spot. They ignored what I said about the spot and how it should be private and protected, but they didn’t see it the way I did. Too many messes that weren't mine that I had to clean up, too many times they never brought a chair or towel, so I would give them my stuff. So I sought out a new spot. It took me a while to find this amazing spot; I worked hard on it. Now, after two long years, I can settle into my spot and enjoy all my work, alone. A little lonely but safe and sound, no more sacrificing my stuff or time to someone who won’t even care.

Then I heard someone clear their throat behind me. I quickly stand up and meet those stupid green eyes that I have a hard time resisting.

“How did you find me?” I said, scanning him, trying to figure out how he figured out that path that I worked so hard on to make it confusing, to keep me safe.

“I found this,” he holds up his hand holding an early edition of the map I made for the path. “It helped me in the beginning, but I had to figure out the rest. You left it with me a while ago.”

“But why did you do that? I didn’t think you would figure out the rest.”

“Didn’t think I could or didn’t think I would put in the effort to figure out this path?” he said, handing me the map, all marked up with his writing. He tried so many different ways to find me. I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. “I can go.”

“No, it’s okay, you can stay. I only have one chair and one towel, though,” I motioned him towards it.

“I brought my own, don't even worry about it,” he says, holding up a bag and folded chair. He smiles at me as he sets his stuff up next to my stuff. I take a seat next to him, still with my guard up. “Here, I brought your favorite snacks too.” He hands me a bag of snacks. I was so worried about letting someone else to my spot I made it so hard to find, but he spent so much time looking for me. He took out his own book and started to read silently beside me. I was half expecting him to talk to me and distract me from my book or play loud music, but this is nice and calm, so I began to read my own book.

We did that for a while, just enjoying the summer warmth and the sound of the waves rolling in. Soon the sun was beginning to set, and we both started to pack up and head through my path. I made it through many times, but going to some parts is difficult even for me. I know this will probably annoy him, and even if he did it once, he won’t do it again. First came this big log that you need to climb over. He jumped on top and offered his hand to me. Hesitant at first, but I took it, and he helped me up and over.

“I know you don’t need help through this path since you made it, but I like to help where I can,” he said to me as he easily lifted me over another obstacle.

Finally, we reached the end of the path where our cars were waiting.

“Same time tomorrow?” he asked.

“You would want to go through that path again?”

“Of course.”

“But just for the private beach, right? It’s a nice spot. I like it a lot. Sure, I’ll be here at the same time.”

“Well, yes, the beach is nice, but I just really like spending time with you,” he spoke softly. For years I have put up this path, no more like walls, thinking it will keep me safe. In some ways, they did. In the past, others have blown up my walls. I thought they did all that just to get to me, but in reality, they were destroying my boundaries and ignoring all my hard work, making me do the hard work over again and be happy with where I am. Yet here he stands, he found his way through this difficult path, climbed the wall, and respected every twist and turn or every brick placed.

“I like hanging out with you too,” I say, grabbing his hand, looking into his big green eyes, happy to finally have someone to enjoy my beach with.