Ninety-one

"You look amazing, Becs," Lacey said with a grin.

Rebecca blushed but smiled back, grateful for the boost of confidence. The one piece swimsuit was nothing extraordinary, but the cerulean blue made her dark hair pop. She had always been self-conscious about her body, especially her scarred leg. 

“Stop looking at it, it's not a big deal, friend.” But it was a big deal to her. The long pink scar ran all the way up to her lower thigh; the faint marks of the bolts and the lost tissue made her leg look uneven compared to the other one. “Come, let's enjoy this beautiful day.”

The sand was warm under their feet as they made their way to the water's edge. Buddy ran ahead, barking happily. As they approached the water, the waves crashed against the shore, and the salty smell of the ocean filled their nostrils. Buddy jumped into the water, chasing after a seagull that flew overhead.

Lacey laughed as she watched Buddy run around in circles, her tail wagging