The waves lick gently at my bare toes, and soak the warm, glistening sand. The rising sun warms my back gently; its rays wrap me in a protective ball of light, where I am immune to the chaos of the world. A soft breeze tossles my auburn hair; birds chirp cheerily in the background. The deep blue ocean before me sparkles like a sapphire in its morning glory. My place.

And it will never be the same.