She sat on the beach. Few people were still here. Labor day always seemed to float like a curtain, cutting off the noise and busy feel of the barrier island she called home.

There was a certain coolness to the air, or maybe it was all in her head. Now was a time to slow down, to remember how life should be lived. With each passing day, the number of tourists would dwindle until it was once again just locals.

The lines at the grocery store would be shorter, and who knows, there might even be some bread left on the shelf.

But it was more than that. The air felt different. It was as if summer would soon be leaving with the tide. As she looked out at the ocean she could imagine summer disappearing beyond the horizon. She was secure in the knowledge that it would return. It always did.

She stood and brushed the sand off her legs and started to walk back to her car. The funny thing is, it was her first trip to the beach since May. Her summer was just beginning.