Thomas looked over at his girlfriend. She was staring out across the water, angry at him over having to leave him when his mother called. She didn't believe that his mother was actually sick, and resented having to share him with her. It was an annoying habit that she had, and he couldn't help but resent her right back.

He looked out over the beach, avoiding her general direction. He suddenly became aware of the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her hair was long and blonde, and flowed in waves down her back as she patted down a sandcastle next to a small boy. The boy laughed as she worked, before promptly stomping the castle down with his little foot.

Thomas couldn't help but laugh to himself as she tickled the child and then helped him destroy the rest of their sandcastle. His girlfriend looked over at him, huffy as ever.

“What is so funny?” she asked him, tipping her sunglasses down her nose.

“Nothing,” he murmured, and went back to his own thoughts, wondering how in the world he had ended up with a girlfriend who was so demanding and unpleasant. He wanted a girl like her.

“I don't think this is working out,” he said abruptly. His girlfriend looked at him in shock. “Really. I want you to get out of here.”
Thomas looked her in the eye.

“You're not more important than my family, no matter what you think. You just aren't, and you never will be. In fact, I can't even look at you right now. So just do yourself a favor and go home.”

Her eyes watered, and she was angrier than hell. She smacked him and started screaming at him before stalking off. Thomas sighed as he watched her walk away. It wasn't his fault that she was too damn bad for him. He would be better off without her. He turned his eyes back to the ocean and for the first time in the six months they had been dating, felt free to smile.