The sun was beginning to rise on that calm beach in July. No one was awake, not even the sun. My alarm clock woke me up in time to see the sunrise along the beach. Opening my eyes to see light coming from behind the curtains, I feared I missed it, the sunrise. This was my last day here at this beach house and I really wanted to see it. Opening the silk curtains, I saw the sun peeking out from behind the horizon. The sun’s light reflected across the water, turning it shades of yellow and orange. Knowing I didn’t have long until the sun would rise higher in the sky, then I started getting ready. Putting on my makeup I realized I wasn’t getting ready for anyone; I was getting ready for myself. I put on my knitted sweater in the quickest way possible and grabbed the things I had prepared the night before.  
Knock Knock Knock 
I knocked on my parents' door trying to wake them up.  
No response. I opened the door anyway. 
“Mom, Dad, I'm going down the beach to see the sunrise for a while,” I whispered to my parents. My mom looked at me and put her head down on the pillow,  
“Ok, be safe Britt.”  
“I love you.” 
“Love you too...” My mom looked at me again and smiled. 
 
 
Then I was off, I went down the steep staircase down to the living room. 
Opening the heavy back door, I jumped down the squeaking stairs with my newfound freedom. I walk across the old rotting bridge avoiding the sand dunes that always had spurred me. I held onto my book and started making my way there. Even though I could see the beach from my window, the trip to the beach was dreadful. The winding and twisting bridge went every way possible. Shaded by the tall palm trees I kept walking knowing what my end goal was. 
 Once I got to the beach, I saw that the only people out there were an old couple walking along the shoreline probably hoping to see the same view as I. Then I saw it; the glow of the sun and all the vibrant colors it put out. The clouds parted perfectly so you could see the sun. You really couldn’t miss it; you wouldn’t want to miss it.  
With Taylor Swift’s song “August” playing in my headphones, everything felt perfect.  
“Salt air, and the rust on your door  
I never needed anything more...” 
The song really said what I was feeling that I never needed anything more than this.  
I wish it would stay like this forever. At the beach, and by myself... 
The soft sand beneath my feet as I walked was comforting and made me feel safe. I then went to a spot where I could sit down and read for a while. I really had time for myself and to reflect on everything in my life. I felt like all I needed right then was the beach. I saw the beauty and work that God has put into this world. This when I truly realized my love for the beach and Gods creation. 
 I felt really connected to him at that moment. 
After a while, I opened my book; I began to read, The Summer I Turned Pretty. I didn’t plan on reading this summer, but I might as well with the time I have. As I began reading, I realized that I actually do like to read certain books. It was like a whole different topic to me that I never really discovered. This trip really made me realize things I've never realized before. 
The sun kept rising as I kept reading. I checked my phone and saw I had already been there for 2 hours. Two hours where I wasn’t constantly checking my phone. Two hours without my parents or anyone else bothering me. I spent two hours sitting outside and just taking in the world and its beauty it holds. I had decided that it was now time to go back to the beach house and pack and get ready for the long car ride back to Tampa. I said goodbye to the beach that I would probably never see again for a long time. The beach really gave me a break from everything else in my life and helped me focus on the present.  
I gathered everything I brought and shoved it back in my bag. I got up and walking back to the bridge that led to the house.  
“Goodbye beach...” 
“Until we meet again?”