Beaches

The sky was an icy blue. Not a cloud to be seen. It was a perfect day to be on the beach. The waves crashed against the jagged cliffs of Portugal's West side. The rock formations cast gentle shadows across the pure white sand. The soft rush of the tides made the atmosphere of the beach… Perfect.

It was a typical Friday in the humble country-side of Portugal. I glanced to my left. My sister jumped up when the tide reached her toes, "Eeek!" she squealed with delight. She looked like she was having the time of her life!
"Hey, Maja! Do you wanna run down to the other side of the beach?" 
She stopped digging in the sand and looked up, "Yes, I'll race you."
I knew she just wanted to have fun. I thought to myself, 'And I am sure to win!' We lined up along the beach. 
"Go!" I yelled over the roar of the ocean. We ran like the wind. The breeze  caught against my hair and buffeted it to a lion's mane. Wind! Our feet left soft prints in the pale sand. I was many strides ahead of Maja. The happiness rushed through my toes to my head. But, all that mattered was having fun.

"Wait for me, Ania!" Maja yelled out. 
I stopped running. Once we got to the other side, we were both heaving for breaths. The beach over here was scattered with polished rocks from the size of a penny to the size of a small car. Polished stones. Jagged rocks. Dull pebbles.
"It looks like those boulders fell from the cliff." I said, without looking up.
She nodded, "Let's we find some cool stones."
I was already doing that. The stones glistened like gems in the crystal waters. 

Our parents were far away from us. My sister and I were alone on the other side of Portugal's prettiest beach. All we had to comfort us was the call of the birds and purring of the water.
"Hey look at this stone." Maja said.
She was holding up a stone that that looked a leopard's pelt. 
"Cool." I said, without making eye-contact.
"Ania?"
"Ya."