When the sun began to rise, my skin burned like it always did. I shot up, shielding my pale face with my dark hair. The sun had always burned my skin badly, even if I was only going to be out there for a few minutes. Luckily, I was wearing my long-sleeve shirt; unfortunately, I had only shorts to shield my legs.

I kept my head down as I began to walk again, ignoring the hot burning in my skin. I never knew exactly why my skin burned so easily, but I had eventually learned to live with it. ​ By midday, the pain in my legs was unbearable. Blisters threatened where the sun slipped through gaps in the branches, and every patch of exposed skin tingled with a heat that felt wrong; deeper than a sunburn, somehow. I ducked beneath a thick canopy, shivering despite the warmth. It wasn’t just the light. It was something in me that recoiled from it, something ancient and frightened. ​ I thought of how my mother always insisted on hats and sleeves and shade, even on cloudy days. She’d say my skin was "sensitive," but her eyes would dart away, and she’d squeeze my shoulder a little too tightly. I never asked why. Maybe I was afraid of the answer. ​ Now, as sweat stung my eyes and the sunlight scorched my skin, I pressed on, desperate for nightfall. The idea made no sense; everyone else longed for the warmth, the safety of the day. But for me, the darkness was home. I belonged to it. I just didn’t know why. ​ As the sun reached its peak, I began to hear the lapping of water at the coast. ​ The ocean! Cool water! ​ I picked up my pace, jogging towards the sounds of the ocean. But I slammed to an abrupt stop as my boots met the sand. The sand was hot… but the ocean was right there. The sea spray washed over me, making me sigh and close my eyes. ​ I fought off my tightly tied boots, preparing to run across the sand. ​ 3… 2… 1 ​ I pushed off strongly, striding across the beach, lifting off my toes and diving into the water below. The cool seawater washed over me, soaking my long-sleeve shirt and shorts. I could feel small fish scattering from me, bubbles running up my legs as I kicked to the surface.

The sun's rays weren't nearly as harsh with a cool coat of water over my skin. Before my eyes could open, I heard a voice behind me.