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The tiny apartment attached to Jamie's small house was perfect. From the moment I walked in, I felt at home. There wasn't much to it, but it was functional and the front window had a sliver of an ocean view if I leaned just right to peer past the monstrous, faded clapboard oceanfront houses.
I had always felt somehow drawn to the ocean, but I had never imagined how soothing it would be to live so near it. Having spent most of my days in the middle of the country, the beach had always been a vacation destination––not one that I could simply walk across the street to enjoy.
Exploring the shoreline quickly became my favorite pastime. It sounded like a cheesy come-on line for a dating website profile, but I truly enjoyed long, quiet walks along the beach. I got up early each day to walk
