Flotsam

Scott Graham

This was the best beach so far.

I had lived by beaches most of my life. The sandy beach at Monifieth was an ideal hideaway during the drawn-out divorce of my parents. The pebbled beach at Broughty Ferry was the fishing spot my dad took us to each strained Saturday as he went through the motions. Then there was Aberdeen beach - the sorry site of many a failed teenage date. But this was the best beach yet, Datai Bay, Langkawi, Malaysia. Stunning, hot and only and a handful of people sharing it.

I looked out to the sea and reflected on the journey to get to here. In past years I had been a mess of excess and solitude. The world had hated me and I hated it right back. It got me nowhere. Then three years ago I decided to live a more positive existence. I learned to drive, gave up smoking and started going to the gym. It led me to new things. It led me to Her and to this day, this beach, this moment in time.

The music started and I snapped out of it. I turned round to see my beautiful bride making her way towards me, our friends watching in awe. The sun was just beginning to go down and in the gold light of an Asian sunset, waves lapping at our toes we made our marriage vows and said goodbye to our solitary pasts.

Best day ever. So far.