I'm Just Drifting [Fiction]

As the only female lifeguard on Cottswood Resort, Simmons' day rarely went the way she expected. By ten am, she had already closed off a section of the beach due to a strong rip current.

She had just made herself comfortable on the lifeguard stand when a figure near the shoreline caught her eye. “What? The red flag is right there. Who is the person anyway?” She muttered, her half eaten bacon sandwich placed back into her breakfast pack as she descended the stand.

She paused for a moment a few steps behind the person. He was tall, broad shouldered with jet-black, wearing a dark navy three-piece suit and sleek leather shoes. She couldn't see his face yet but everything about him screamed money.

“Erm, hello. Sir. This area is restricted till the afternoon,” she snapped, stepping around him to stand in front of him. She sucked in a breath—he was good looking but tortured. His gaze met hers and she saw pain in them. “Are you okay?” Her voice softened.

He bent to roll his trousers up to his knees. “I…just need a moment. Just to step into the water.”

She stepped closer, bracing herself in the event she had to stop him or engage him physically although he was bigger than her. But she would do her best. That was her job.

“Why?” She asked, her voice soft. “I said this part of the beach is closed.”

He locked eyes with her and smiled wistfully. “You sound like my mom.”

“Oh.”

He exhaled, shaking his head. “Sorry. I'm having a bad day and it's barely started. I wanted to put my legs in water, just to clear my head.”

“Come up a bit and sit…talk if you want, just not in the water. For your safety,” she added, a warm flush spreading across her cheeks as his gaze lingered on her.

“Okay.” That was easier than she expected.

They moved away from the shoreline and sat on the warm sand. For moment, neither of them spoke.

“I'm just drifting…,” he blurted, his gaze on the ocean, “and it's exhausting.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve always let my parents decide everything, you know…letting them steer my life.” His jaw tightened. “But it's my life! And now, I want things to change…be different.”

“Then do so,” she said gently, drawing his gaze back to her. “It's your life as you've pointed out. Start making your own decisions but start small. They are still your family.”

The silence was comfortable. Then he turned with a bright smile that she was sure made him more money that he knew what to do with them. “I'm Chase Silver.”

They shook hands and he held on. “Simmons.”

“Isn't that a guy's name?”

She smiled and shrugged. “Maybe. But you'll have to take me to dinner if you want the full story.”

He laughed and just like that, the weight around him seemed to lift.

I hope you enjoyed reading this short piece. It's inspired by the Freewrite #dailyprompt phrase "I’m just drifting".

Thank you for visiting my blog.

^{_{Image credit: Humberto Paiva from Pixabay}}