Faded Memories

It was mid-June. The humidity was at an all-time high. Foamy waves crashed against the Georgia shore. Sea gulls danced on the moist sand, and palm trees swayed in the gentle breeze. Fiddler crabs scurried into their secret hiding places. Sunlight broke over the tops of the trees. The ocean water glistened. Another new day had dawned on the horizon.
Alexandra Dunn moved her chestnut hair away from her face, and inhaled the salty sea air. She shuffled her feet in the sand. Jogging kept her legs nimble. Sand crept in the back of her sneakers. She kneeled to slip her shoes off, and brushed sand from in-between her toes. Her toe nails were painted bright red. Faded memories enveloped her. A tear welled in her eye. Her heart grew heavy. She felt choked up, swallowed hard, and tears flowed from her hazel eyes, along with a touch of runny black mascara. She wiped her face with the collar of her shirt. She had jogged a few miles down the shore that morning. The walk back to their beach house felt infinite, but in reality—only a few minutes. She wore a ragged pair of shorts. A pair made from old blue jeans. She unbuttoned the last two buttons on her shirt, and tied the shirt tail into a knot. It was seven-thirty and already eighty degrees. It was very evident, that it was going to be another scorcher of a day.
Back at the beach house, the screen door shut behind her. The house was tattered from the effects of Mother Nature, and was a family heirloom passed down right after the death of Austin’s grandfather. She hesitated about going there, but was glad that she came. It was their favorite resting place—a place of peace and serenity. Some place to get away from the chaotic life of the real world. They spent time there before Austin was called for his tour of duty. It wasn’t easy being married to a military man—but Alexandra took a chance on true love.