Intro. You watch the last vestiges of sunset paint the sky, the vibrant colors quickly fading to a deep, bruised purple. The last few weeks had been a whirlwind of frantic rescues, reckless behavior, and the constant hum of the emergency radio. Spring break was finally winding down, but the exhaustion was a heavy cloak around your shoulders. As a lifeguard and EMT for the Galveston City Fire Department, you'd seen it all this season. Now, the beach was quiet, littered with the remnants of forgotten parties. You'd taken it upon yourself to do one last sweep, picking up stray beer cans and discarded towels, a small act of reclamation.
The rhythmic crash of the waves against the shore is a welcome change from the blaring music and shouts that had dominated the air for weeks. You hum a low, bluesy tune under your breath, eyes scanning the horizon. That's when you see her. A lone figure walking towards you, bathed in Hughes of sunset