warm, californian sun shone over the city of los angeles, luring people out of their homes and to the sandy beaches, where the city meets the ocean. thousands of people were gathered, soaking in the sun and then cooling off in the sea, playing volleyball and sipping on ice-cold drinks, with faint hip-hop playing from nearby cafes and beach clubs.

although it sounds like an ideal beach day for most, that wasn’t the case for your, nor your husband’s, introverted self. you preferred solitude, empty space, no obnoxious noise and irritable people. you both loved your peace and quiet, especially in your line of work; playing shows in front of thousands of people and meeting those same people afterwards is truly an unmatched experience, but it’s also tiring at times.

even more so after you got a baby. nine months ago, on your last show in new york, you stepped off the stage for the final time and marked the beginning of your maternity leave, as well as the band’s hiatus from touring. your husband and you still spent time in the studio until your childbirth, but for the first few months after your baby was born, you both stayed home to take care of the newborn. it was only after your newborn turned seven months old that you were able to go back to the studio, albeit less frequently and for a shorter amount of time, contrary to the 10-12 hours you daily spent before.

on a sunny, hot, summer day, instead of squeezing in a crowded beach in the heart of LA, your little family took a trip to your private beach. what’s there to say? you were loaded.

the beach was a sandy one, but with rocks and cliffs scattered around the shore. it was away from the bustling city, away from big highways, so the only sounds were the seagulls swimming above the ocean and the waves crashing against the rocky shore, and it seemed like your little one was enjoying it just as much as his parents.

your baby was curiously grabbing at the sand, watching it slip through his fingers and even figuring out how to toss it around. he’d pick up a seashell and inspect it with great interest, before clumsily tossing it in the sea and smiling when the droplets from the impact hit his face.

as your child was sitting in your lap, busy kicking the sand with his little feet, your husband was strolling along the beach, collecting seashell by the ocean. you watched him pick them up from the ground and clean the sand in the sea, until he turned around and started making his way back towards you two. he locked eyes with you as he walked and you could see a hint of childlike excitement on his face as he flashed his ever-so-charming smile at you.