Author's Note: 

Wrote this ten years or so ago. Please don't judge me by my former self. hahahahaha

For as long as I could remember, I would spend my summers at the old shore village where my grandmother lived. Her house was one of the oldest 'round that area and I had the golden sand and rushing waves for my backyard.

I was the only child of two of the wealthiest people from our province so by the time I was seven, I was one of the most spoiled-rotten children you've ever seen. For that very reason, my cousins left me alone, and so I spent my days at the beach.

Sand-castles bored me so I taught myself to swim. It was during one of those swims that I met her. Cassandra.

The first time I saw her she was standing where water and shore kissed, throwing tiny pebbles at the sea. She was dressed in a ragged brown dress that was too short for her and she looked to be about the same age as me.

It was at that moment that a really huge wave engulfed me. I could have eluded it but I didn't see it coming as I was staring at her. Before I knew it, she was swimming beside me, dragging me to shore where I regained my breath.

She smiled at me and we spent the day building a sand kingdom.

That was the start. I would eat breakfast as soon as it was served before me and would finish it in five minutes. Then I'd have one of the helpers pack me a basket filled with rice, fresh fish and some bananas. Cassandra and I would build a fire and cook the fish.

I suppose my grandmother was rather curious about my behavior but she never asked.

Cassandra and I swam half the mornings away, and when the sun grew too hot, we would explore the coves nearby. We would usually sit there, covered from the scorching ball of gold and eat our lunch serenely. Those were the happiest times of my childhood- or even my life.

When I was with her, I felt like I was a different kid. I didn't act spoiled or selfish 'cause I know she wouldn't play with me anymore.

I remember, one summer day, we picked all the wild flowers we could find and then we made wreaths. When she wore one on her hair, it was like seeing a child-goddess. She had the sea's golden beauty and the dark eyes of the evening sky. To be honest, it made my childish heart skip a beat.

Then one day, just as I was nearing my vacation's end, Cassandra didn't show up.

The next summer I returned, hoping to meet my friend again but she never showed herself. I asked some of my cousins about her but they dismissed me saying that I shouldn't play with common fisher folks. Cassandra, they supposed was one of the daughters of the many fishermen that inhabited the poorer side of the coast, judging from the clothing she wore.

It was the first and only summer I saw her. Years later, I would wonder why I never asked her to our house, I didn't ask to go to hers either.

Some nineteen years later, after I crashed my car into a wreck, practically threw my family's long cherished business, I returned to the old sea village. By that time, my grandmother was sleeping beside my grandfather in the graveyard beside the church, and my cousins were all successful. The old house was taken care of by a couple who had always worked for my family. Other than them, not a single person was interested to come to that old house.

I drove straight from the company so when I got there I was still wearing my business suit. I bought six cans of beer from the local grocery store and lay on the sand, looking at the stars.

My parents despise me, and my life's practically ruined. In short, I was a mess.

It was then that I noted the full moon and the high tide that was starting to drag me back to the sea. I gave in to the waves.

I could feel the pain and the longing to breathe but I was determined to die. I've turned into a money-making, worldly failure; exactly the person I tried to avoid.

Just as I was losing consciousness, I felt someone catch the sleeve of my suit and drag me to the surface. That person then swam and brought the two of us to the shore. When I opened my eyes, I saw a pair of eyes that reflected the dark waves. I caught her hand and whispered her name. She just smiled and before I knew it, she had kissed me. Then she went back to the water.

I stood up quickly but all I saw was the splash her fin made.