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The cold water hits my toes, instantly chilling them, before it recedes and my feet are left exposed to the cold winter air. The pebbles under my feet are slightly slimy and I scrunch my toes and feel them shift and then return back to their original position.
I breathe in and out, inhaling the ozone smell of the estuary. Some of my happiest times have been here. One of the first places I felt comfortable in public being with my then boyfriend. Simpler, more carefree times, now that I look back. When all we were really concerned about was whether our combined allowances would stretch to chips and another photo in the booth on the pier. Well, that was my main concern anyway.
There were also visits here that have more mixed memories; unusual behaviour, and difficult conversations that had to be had, they happened right here. The tides washing out our problems and rolling back in with love and support time and time again.
The water rises back up to my feet once more, a little higher this time, just shy of my ankles. I look up from the water as it falls away. The sun is starting its downward journey and the tide is coming in. It won't be long before the stars are sparkling like fairy lights and the beach will be a darkly aqua reflection tempting me to dive into its peaceful depths. Escaping is something I have a bit of a tendency to do at parties.
“What the fuck are you doing, Nick?” Charlie stands next me, eying up the Vans in my hand.
“Err…nothing?”
“Nothing?! Nothing is getting the ankles of your new suit absolutely soaked. Idiot.”
He loops his arm through mine and pulls me away from the water’s edge.
“It's time for the First Dance, twatface.” He grumbles affectionately.
Turning away from the sea brings the pier into my line of vision. The lights strung between the beach huts are firefly glows guiding us back to our waiting loved ones.
“Yeah, alright.” I'm not really a dancer, not like Charlie. I could watch him move and sway all day and all night.
“Alright? We've not paid thousands for ‘alright’! Shoes back on, mister!”
Before I even know it, he's taken my shoes out of my hands, pulled the socks from inside them and is kneeling on the pebbles, getting his own trousers wet as he makes me lift up one foot, and then the other, in the process of making me look presentable once more.
He stands back up, dusting off invisible motes from his knees, and holds out his hand.
“Coming?”
I refrain from making a joke about maybe later. Even though that's exactly what I hope will happen. I take his hand and we start our walk back to the rest of the wedding party. I squeeze it three times.
“Forever.”