as I run is as impressive as my need to go faster.
The only thing that slows me down is the view of the seemingly abandoned area of town as we approach it. It’s as if Apollo Beach is split into two—north and south, new and old. Even the sand in the volleyball area appears to be abandoned as weeds grow between its grains in the shallow spots. All that’s left are crumbling exteriors and overgrown lawns the color of dried mustard. A strange feeling takes hold in my chest, like there’s a history here I’ll never understand.
When we get close to the start of a wooden walkway with a sign that points to a “Nature Trail,” I slow alongside him and look over for the first time since we started our run. He’s sweating and breathing heavily. I assume I should be just as tired, but my energy isn’t exhausted.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he says while sucking in sips of air. “How do you have so much energy?”
I twist my lips into a hesitant smile. “I don’t know, honestly. I haven’t run in weeks. It must be all that built-up energy from staying in so much lately.”
Alec shakes his head. “That would make it harder, not easier. We just ran five miles, and you haven’t even broken a sweat. You are a superhuman, woman.”
I laugh at his strange compliment then step forward onto a concrete path that eventually turns to dirt and rocks. We walk the rest of the way, and tropical wildlife begins to spring from the ground on either side of us. As the walkway narrows, exotic leaves and flowers on either side brush my arms.
Alec is apparently a wealth of knowledge. He describes what I’m seeing around me—tidal creeks where the mangroves grow, providing a habitat for large coastal birds, oysters, crabs, and fish. We move up a small hill, round a corner, then travel back down to an empty semi-enclosed beachfront. I look up to find a large building with the same smokestacks I remember seeing upon my arrival to Apollo Beach.
When we finally reach a clearing at the top of the trail, I get a better view of the energy plant as it looms before me. Tall cylinder structures attached to a rectangular building overlook the water, with a fenced-in yard of gravel surrounding all sides of the facility.
My mom once mentioned that my father worked at an energy plant after high school. This must be the one. The thought creates a heaviness in my chest—an unwelcome weight that I’ve always tried to avoid. Being here, at the birthplace of my father, the place where my parents fell in love, it feels impossible to escape.
Sadness tries to dominate my memories of her, but this time, I won't allow it. I’ll never stop missing my mother, but I refuse to cry every time I think of her. Instead, I focus on the good times we shared. A smile plays across my face as I immerse myself in a nostalgic place where time no longer exists.
Time passes, but I remain still as memories of my mom flash through my mind like a moving picture book. Her bright smile as I came through the door after playing basketball. Her quick-paced walk everywhere she went, always in a hurry. Our bicycle races. The warm hugs she gave me when I occasionally revealed my insecurities to her. The silly faces she would make when I asked her about a date. No one was good enough for her. I’ll never forget the sight of her reading the newspaper every morning as she sat on the couch, holding a fresh cup of coffee. Her scent after her nightly shower was always fresh from the baby powder she sprinkled all over her body.
By the time we step back onto the private beach in front of our homes, I’m exhausted. Not physically, though. I could run another ten miles. Mentally, I’m just done.
It’s like Alec reads my mind. “Come on.”
He pulls me toward the shore and kicks off his shoes, then he slides off his shirt and tosses it onto the sand. I quickly avert my gaze but not before catching sight of a well-sculpted chest and abs. Geez, he’s got a good body. I saw him shirtless that first night on the beach, but this is somehow different. We’re alone now, and daylight leaves nothing to the imagination.
I hesitate for a second before following his lead, stripping out of my tank