The last warm rays of sunlight cast themselves over the beach, illuminating the crests of the tide and all that it touched in a rich orange glow. The familiar, salty sea breeze whispered through Levi's short brown curls - ever so slightly bleached by the midday's rays - and she greeted the dusk with a vague, faraway smile as the globe rotated away from its distant, fiery benefactor. She and her mother had been living here in Okinawa for a few years now, ever since her mom had been stationed here by the Air Force, she decided to settle in and buy a house here, and Levi had gotten her high school education on this island. It was a single-parent household, and although mother and daughter didn't get as much time together as they would have liked, they valued their time together as much as their independence, even if Levi was now 19 and considered an adult in the eyes of Japanese law.
It was practically a ritual for her by now - she'd finish helping with dinner, they'd eat together (when they could), and once the dishes were rinsed and everything put back where it belonged, Levi would walk through town and down to the beach, often just in time to see the sun setting. During the day, she worked as a waitress in a small restaurant, serving breakfast and lunch to locals, tourists, and even the occasional servicemen having a day off, trying to contribute in any way she could so that she and her mother would never have to want for food again. The military wasn't an ideal choice, but it brought them stability after having to all but couch hop to stay off the streets following a rough divorce. Taking a walk by the water was usually a good way to clear her mind after even the longest and most hectic days.
Mint green flip flops were kicked off of tanned feet the moment they touched sand, and Levi took the sandals into the first two fingers of her left hand to carry while she made her leisurely trek down the shoreline. The warm, dry sand that shifted beneath her footfalls gave way to the gritty mud that was left over from high tide, and further still until she was almost at the waterline. She rather savored the way it squished between her toes, and each time the cool water came up to lap at her ankles, it washed away the temporary prints she left in her wake. For being on a popular vacation spot, this beach was usually rather quiet at night - nary a soul save for maybe a rare local who had the same idea, or a tourist attempting to fish - and for now, it seemed tonight was no exception. This suited Levi just fine, as she generally preferred to hoof it alone and recharge her proverbial batteries. Waiting tables wasn't exactly the best job choice for an introvert like herself, but she supposed sacrifices had to be made.
Twilight descended quickly, and a large but waning moon began to illuminate her path, its silver light taking the place of the golden rays of sunset, pairing perfectly with the blue and purple shadows of night. She must have been out there for about an hour, sometimes stopping to observe what constellations she could spot, but by now she almost knew the beach by heart… Levi wondered if she could find her way back home completely blindfolded. That being said, the slight chill of the air was starting to set in, and she decided to turn back and make her way toward the town again. It wasn't like she was particularly far from home, as her pace was slow when she took these walks, and they were less about going somewhere than simply enjoying, simply being. A slightly more brisk pace might have her home in twenty minutes or so, maybe a half hour at most.
However, what should have been a fairly standard and uneventful return trip, felt as if it might not be all it seemed. About ten minutes after reversing course, the brunette got the feeling that something strange was afoot, but she couldn't place her finger on why… that is, until on the near horizon, she saw a figure. They seemed to be sitting in the sand, alone, knees to their chest and locks of wispy hair billowing in the wind. She slowed her roll, making sure to keep her steps quiet as she approached… and as the figure came into clearer view, she determined that it was a boy. He seemed to be right on the edge of frail, and couldn't have been any older than she was; the apparent teenager had his arm held up in such a way that it appeared he was staring quite intently at his wrist. Levi noted that he was almost lost in his own world, as he didn't even notice her getting closer. She wasn't sure why she was so curious about this stranger, but she couldn't help herself… she had to know more.
With her voice soft, only just loud enough to be heard over the waves so she wouldn't startle him, she called out, "Hey, is everything alright...?"
Sassybaskets:"Sup nerds, Sassybaskets here. I'm mostly gonna let my writing speak for itself unless I'm feeling particularly snarky for some reason. Enjoy!"