Audrey had always wanted to do so many things. Mostly, she would voice these things as a wish upon a star, or even as a complaint when she couldn't take the idea of living in such a limited world. Everyone had pitied her, listened with a smile and a nod. Knowing full well that she simply couldn't.

Maybe that's what made it so jarring with Eli. The first person she'd met who showed concern for her, but didn't assume she couldn't do things. And certainly never told her she couldn't. One of her favorite things about Eli, she had decided, was that when she told him she wanted desperately to do something, he didn't throw a pitiful nod her way.

No, he thought of ways to help her do those things. Ways she could swim and ways she could go into the ocean. He supported her. That was something she had always craved- support for her dreams- but hadn't realized until she was offered it.

"It's questions like, 'Do I use our real names?', 'Should it be fiction or non-fiction?', 'Whats the title?'." Eli explained as they drove. Audrey tried to pay attention, but was becoming progressively giddy at the sight of the beach nearing them, the smell of the salty ocean air.

She abruptly parked. "I don't mind if you use my name." She said, unbuckling herself and opening the door. Eli followed her and picked up their beach bags. As they walked up the path to the beach, sand slipping into their shoes, Audrey continued.

"It's non-fiction." She added, swinging her bag. "People love non-fiction that's actually interesting." Eli started to object, having read a great many interesting non-fiction books, but Audrey waved him off. "As for the title..." She paused as they stood at the top of the sandy beach, sparkling ocean welcoming them. "I'll have to get back to you."

Audrey immediately took off her shoes and started to peel off her clothes. "We should set up a place for our stuff first." Eli tried, but she was already halfway to the ocean. They belonged to summer, the two of them. It wasn't that they didn't exist the rest of the year, it was that summer was their time. Summer truly encapsulated Audrey at least, Eli knew that. All bright colors and sweet smells. And wherever Audrey belonged, Eli did too. 

He panicked as she ran straight into the sea, as he'd just recently taught her to swim, and she'd never been in the ocean. "Audrey!" He warned as he pulled his T-shirt off. She wasn't listening.

There are many magical things about the ocean. The way it pulls you into it, so gently. Its odd warmth. The softness of the sand. The waves that rock you like a baby. Audrey fell in love with it as soon as her toes touched the water. She laughed as Eli ran to join her, water splashing everywhere, sun beating down and reflecting off of his hair.

"You've got to be careful." He warned, though she was only waist deep. Audrey responded by splashing him. "Lighten up." She ordered, still laughing. And glowing. Glowing just as brightly as the first day he met her. Summer day by the ocean. Another light she looks beautiful in, Eli noted. She never failed.

****

Days at the beach, when the weather is just right, are unforgettable. Audrey thought this as she ate a hot dog on her beach towel. Still drying off from being dunked multiple times by Eli, her curls dripped and drooped.

Eli sat down and handed her a bottle of water. "I like it here." She commented. Eli pushed his own wet hair back. "California?"

Audrey nodded. "We should live here." She said bluntly.

"Agreed."

Audrey smiled. "Thanks for keeping your promise." She said, "The sea is amazing." Her big, hazel eyes bored into his with the utmost sincerity. Eli smiled back. "A promise is a promise."

When Audrey took a nap on her beach towel, hair sprawled out, tan, smooth skin against her polka dot bikini, Eli's only thought was that he was in love with her. And that it was so funny to look back on how scary it used to be to even think those words, much less say them.

Now, it was simple. He loved her hair and her expressive eyes. He loved her perfectly pink tinted lips and her bright smile. Her giggle and the way she talked too much when she got nervous.

He loved that she looked right into his eyes and the way she treated him uniquely from the way she treated everyone else. He loved how affectionate she was, and how she never failed to be honest with him.

There was more. There were endless reasons. What Eli knew as he watched her sleep peacefully, a smile dancing on her lips, was that he'd never love anyone the same way. Not this much, not this completely. And that was just fine with him.

****

The day was drawing to a close, so Eli continued to tell her. He didn't like driving so far in the dark, and Audrey remained adamant that it was only 6 and that they had to stay to watch the sunset.

Eventually, Eli conceded and sat down next to her on the shore. With her legs tucked up to her chest, she let the waves lap up and tickle her knees. As they watched the sun and the sky, both of which changed colors as evening set in, Audrey had a revelation. "The sun and the stars." She let out.

Eli's eyebrows furrowed as he looked at her. "What?"

"Your book title." Audrey grinned infectiously as she looked at him, hair sort of a mess of curls and eyes so earnest. Eli had to refocus on her words as he was so distracted for that moment, in the orange sunsets glow.

"It's about you." He said, not understanding what she was getting at exactly. He'd heard her say it before. How his hair was the sun, his freckles the stars. 

"It's about us." Her pink lips pursed as she waited for it to click in his mind.

He nodded toward her. "The sun..." Warm, bright, glowingly brilliant. Impossible to miss. 

She smiled and and placed her hand on his chest. "And the stars." Distant, silent, understated. But, just as bright- you just need to look a little closer. 

Eli accepted this and smiled even wider as he turned to look back out over the horizon, bursting into pinks and reds as the sun continued to disappear over the sea. Audrey leaned her head on his shoulder.

 Audrey held onto Eli's hand on the sandy shore, water washing over their entwined fingers. She closed her eyes with a content smile when he kissed her head, though she was sure she must have smelled and tasted of salt water. 

The sea sparkled as it absorbed the sunlight. There was something so spectacular about that. As if the sea was keeping the sunlight safe until morning. As if the sun was melting into the endless oceans inviting waves. It looked like love. How fitting.