Northumberland County

Lyrics

By Hillary May
10th Grade

The beach was always a beautiful place to visit with someone, and I had not seen Danny for several months. These getaways were the only chance, and I sloughed through the deep sand of the dunes towards our favorite spot, where I had promised to meet him. As I reached the top of the last dune, I looked out at our spot; he had gotten there first. The sight before me was one of the most striking and beautiful I had ever seen.

Red, purple, and orange raced across the sky in broad strokes, seeming to move away from the dark edges overtaking them. No clouds marred this flawless canvas of bold, vibrant colors and a glowing sun that was fast disappearing. The sun had dropped low, just barely visible above the horizon’s edge. It looked as if the ocean were putting out a bonfire. Its rough waves crashed against the shore, roaring like lions as they charged onto the sand and then rushed back out. I could taste salt in the air, stinging in my throat, and the scent was strong, too, mingled faintly with sunscreen. Instead of hearing gulls, or laughing children, or other noises of the beach in the daytime, I could only hear the crashing of the waves and a soft, deep humming of some indistinguishable tune that slipped in and out of audibility. My eyes followed a trail of Danny’s large footprints on the damp, cold sand until they found him. The beach had created a perfect backdrop for him, a silhouette standing against the dramatic sunset.

A second glance turned him from silhouette to person, and I took in the sight eagerly. His mop of shaggy blonde hair was tousled and wild from the wind. I could not see his face since his back was towards me, but I knew what I would see if I could; he had twinkling green eyes, a nose with a bump left after a bad break, and a lopsided mouth that always seemed ready to smile. His shoulders were broad, but his tanned body tapered into a narrow waist, and a wide stretch of shiny scar tissue ran from his upper back over the curve of one strong shoulder. Black swim trunks with a white stripe down the side rested low on his hips, weighed down by the water that dripped from the bottom in lazy droplets. Each drop landed around his big feet, buried in the cool gritty sand. A stretched shadow extended from him, far longer than his six-feet and two inches. He looked like a part of this scene, as important as the sky, sand, and surf themselves.

My foot slipped in the sand, and I let out a soft “oof” as I lurched forward. Danny turned to look at me, a grin appearing on his handsome features. Just like that, the magical moment vanished, becoming only a memory as we started to laugh and talk about ordinary things. It is a memory, however, that I drift back to often, and even though I have witnessed many other lovely things since that night, Danny and that sunset, his sunset, will always remain one of the most beautiful and striking sights of my life.