In the arms of Californian glory, I discover the true meaning of “home.” The palm trees swaying as the wind whispers, bringing serenity to my troubled soul. The sun falls steadily across the sky and I am engrossed in the vibrant hints of red and yellow. The tide reaches for me and offers to wash away all my fears and worries. I oblige.

My sandals lay sprawled across the sand next to me as I sit, basking in the soothing rays that are disappearing too fast. The ocean seems to be calling my name, flowing towards shore with sparkling green, blue, and ivory sprays.

As the sky transforms into an opaque mauve, the sea grows dark. Aromas of cedar embers mix with the salty, fresh scent signify the start of glowing bonfires. I turn and smile, my cousin walks over to offer me a s’more stick. She takes my hand and stares out at the whispering waves.

“Oh, it’s beautiful,” my cousin marvels.

But the beach is so much more, she is a part of me now. I gaze longingly at my one true love, feeling the light embrace of her wind and the sand on my toes.

“Yes, she is.”