AN: Hello guys! We in Britain have been having a very fun summer, what with Andy Murray winning Wimbledon, England being pretty close to winning the Ashes, the Lions winning the Rugby, four Gold medals at the athletics, Chris Froome winning the Tour de France, and Will and Kate having their new baby boy. All the happiness and joy put me in the mood for an update, so here it is!

"Kerrie! Kerrie!"

I frown as the shouts wake me up onto my face, ending my dream. I can't remember exactly what was going on, but I remember there was water- warm, gentle water, that made me feel like I was swimming in liquid sunlight. And as I remember this, I feel myself drifting back into sleep, my thoughts floating away, and I'm-

"KERRIE!"

I sit up abruptly, properly awake this time. I look up, then wish I had, because my eyes meet the furious brown ones of my Dad.

"Morning Dad," I say, running a hand through my hair.

"Kerrie, how many times do I have yell for you to wake up?" Dad's already dressed in Jeans and a polo shirt, hair washed and combed, and arms folded.

"Sorry Dad," I say, flushing, "I couldn't hear you."

He raises an eyebrow at me, but lets it drop. "Anyway, you have half-an-hour to get showered- wash your hair mind, it's a mess- dressed, check that you're packed, eat your breakfast, and get yourself to the car!" He leaves the room, presumably to start loading his and mum's suitcases. I lay back for a minute, then jump up and spring into action.

I've been counting down to today for months! It's finally the first day of the summer holidays, and we're going down to visit Aunt Sapphy in Cornwall for the first time. Every other year, she's met us somewhere else, like Scotland, or Spain, or France. Dad never wanted to go back to his childhood home, and Mum wasn't particularly fussed where we went, as long as we got to go somewhere.

I shower in five minutes flat, which is no mean feat, considering the amount of hair I have to wash. I run around in a frenzy, pulling on my shorts and t-shirt. Then I fish around in my dressing table drawer for a minute, before I find what I'm looking for. It's a necklace, my favourite necklace. The pendant is a little fish, made of a flat, oval-shaped stone, with a tail made of a piece of broken shell, and an eye made of a piece of broken glass washed up on the beach. It's hung on a length of twine, which I tie around my neck. Aunt Sapphy sent it to me for Christmas. She made it herself, she makes jewellery out of things she finds on the beach, and sells it in the little tourist shop she runs.

"Kerrie! Are you ready?"

"Nearly, Mum!" I call. I have just one more thing to pack. I unzip my suit case, revealing piles of messily folded clothes. I open my bedside drawer, and pull out the silky blue book. For a second, without quite knowing why, I hug it to my chest. Then, I lift the piles of clothes with one hand, and slip the book at the bottom of the suitcase. Then I zip it back up and practically fall down the stairs.

"Morning Kerrie," my Mum smiles at me.

"Morning Mum," I say, grabbing a granola bar.

We make our way to the car, carrying suitcases which we shove into the boot, Mum piles the bags of food under her seat, and finally, we're on our way.

6 hours later, we're there.


I sit up groggily. The left side of my face hurts, from being pressed up against the window for too long, and I feel car-sick, and as I get out of the car, my legs feel as though they've been filled with jelly. But it doesn't matter now- none of it does. As I breath in the warm, balmy air that smells of brine, and feel the golden sunset light caress my face, the feeling of weak, woolly-headed nausea lifts. I feel strong, and whole, and happy.

I look outwards, and my breath catches in my throat. I can see now that the little cottage, in front of which our car is parked, is seated close to the edge of a hill. We're surrounded by grassy patches, and the cottages are scattered few and far between. But that's not what holds my interest. Beyond the grass, the cliff ends, and plunges downwards, into a band of white-gold sand, dotted with seaweed and shells and driftwood. And beyond that, and stretching for what seems like infinity, is the ocean. It's beautiful- glittering fiery in the light of the sunset, glinting orange and yellow and red and gold. I can hear the waves, as they wash in and out, and in and out, and in and out, slowly, rhythmically, like breathing. In and out, in and out, in and out, in and-

"Sapphy!" Dad's voice slices through my daydream, as he catches sight of his sister, and waves. I break into a grin as I see her, and again, as every time I look at her, I'm struck by the striking similarities between our appearances- both of us have dark, wavy hair, though mine is only just long enough to tie into a ponytail, and hers tumbles way past her knees. Our slender frames are similar too, but whilst I come across as lanky and a bit awkward, she moves lithely, and thanks to all the time she spends swimming, she's developed long, lean muscles.

She runs towards my Dad, loose white cotton trousers and khaki half-sleeve blouse flapping in the breeze, and a huge smile lighting up her faraway eyes.

"Con!" she cries, barrelling into Dad at top speed, almost knocking him over with the force with which she hugs him.

"Ouch, lay off Saph," Dad groans, but he's smiling at the top of her dark head, "how're you?"

"Better, now I'm sure you've come! I half expected you not to show up!"

He rolls his eyes and catches his breath as Aunt Sapphire releases him. I'm struck by how much younger he looks now he's met his sister.

My Aunt's moved onto new prey. "Rainbow!" she exclaims, delighted, hugging her with equal force.

"Saph!" squeals Mum, equally delighted, almost picking Mum up.

They swing each other round for a bit, giggling, and then it's my turn.

"Kerenza, my girl," she says, mock serious, and for the millionth time I wonder why she's the only person who calls me by my full name.

"Hey Aunt Saph," I say, grinning ruefully at her.

"Fifteen now, eh?" she asks, nodding her approval, "too old for a cuddle?"

"Oh, definitely," I say, smiling as I lean in for a hug.

We break apart laughing, and Mum and Dad start carting luggage in to the cottage. I grab my rucksack, and look around for Aunt Sapphire. I catch sight of her, standing right down by the gate, staring out seawards, a wistful expression on her face. I hadn't notice her move that way.

"Aunt Saph! Are you coming?" I call to her as I cross the garden to join her.

She doesn't reply, nor does she seem to notice me when I reach her side.

"Aunt Saph? Are you-"

"It's strange to think, isn't it?" she interjects, as if she didn't hear me start to speak, "we all grew up with it. Me, your Dad... my Dad."

I nod. "Dad said the cottage's been with your family since the time of his great-granddad."

"What?" she turns to look at me, bewildered, as though I've suddenly shaken her awake, "oh, right. The cottage, yeah."

She shakes her head, and puts a hand on my shoulder to steer me back towards the cottage. I've crossed the threshold, but Aunt Sapphire hesitates by the doorstep for a moment. She's still staring at the sea.