Destiny Ever-Changing by Tasha Ivey Page A

the beach, and I realize there's only about an hour until the sun starts to set. If I'm going to go for a walk, I need to do it right now, so I run back over to the house to tell Nana that I'm going for a walk. Maybe living with her won't be so bad, after all. She actually lectures me, because I tell her where I am going.
    Finally, I head toward the water. I was right about the evening being clear; only a few wispy clouds still hover overhead. When I get to the sand, I take my shoes off, hide them behind a little bush, and I begin walking down the shoreline. The warm, fine sand feels amazing on my tired feet, and a gentle breeze caresses my exposed skin. The rhythmic sound of the waves is very calming to my soul, and I immediately begin to relax a little. It's the perfect end to a not-so-perfect day.
    As I walk, I think about everything that has been going on in my life, including today. I can't figure out what I'm supposed to do now. Nana said that I had to figure out what I want on my own, but all I can think of is what I don't want. I don't want to keep starting my life over. I don't want a boyfriend that is going to try to change me or cheat on me. I don't want to feel like I'm doing everything wrong.
    Up ahead, I see a young girl walking toward me. As she gets closer, I can see that she is talking on her cell phone, and I can guess that she's talking to her boyfriend by what she is sayingcrying, actually. It appears that I'm not the only heartbroken person on the beach tonight.
    The sun is beginning to set, and it's the most mesmerizing thing I've ever seen. I don't remember sunsets looking like this when I was a little girl, but I guess, at that age, I just didn't care.
    I don't know how long I've been walking or how far. I should probably turn back, since it's already going to be pitch black out here by the time I get home. Luckily, I have one of those handy little flashlights on my key chain, among various other things you need when you live in a city like Baltimore. I look ahead, and I see a set of stairs coming off of the steep bluff. I decide that I'll walk to those stairs, turn around, and head back.
    I'm almost to the stairs when I see that there is something on them. No, it's some one. A pretty drunk someone, if I had to guess. I can see empty beer bottles planted in the sand all around. I can also identify that it's a man, since he's not wearing a shirt. I can't tell if he's asleep, but I feel compelled to make sure he's okay. Clenching my pepper spray on my keychain, I continue to approach the man.
    Once I am near enough to distinguish that he is , in fact, breathing, I realize that I recognize him. He's the gardener that changed my tire, and it looks as if he's passed out cold. I know that I need to hurry and leave before he sees me, but I linger for a just moment to admire him. I didn't look closely at his features earlier today, since I was embarrassed the entire time. He looks much different now with his face relaxed. He must have been swimming, because his khaki shorts are still damp. His dark hair looks mostly dry, but it's a beautiful mess. He also has sand clinging all over his tanned, defined chest and muscular arms. I'd much rather look at him than the sunset.
    Snapping back into the reality of the situation, I decide that I can't let him see me here. I quietly begin to turn to walk back, watching him carefully to see if he moves. Then, I notice his eyes slowly opening, and he looks confused. I instantly come to the realization that he only had his eyes closed and was not quite asleep.
    Just great! He caught me!
    I quickly think of something to say, and he looks up at mewith a half-drunk smile. I can tell by that smile that he remembers me . . . and everything that happened today.
    "Laura?" he says with a sleepy grin.
    He knows my name? "Exactly how do you know who I am?"
    He sits up as if he snaps into reality. "I don't really. I just read it on a box earlier today, so I assumed that was your