By The Beach

Remi had been living in Miami Beach for the last six months. He’d taken a leap of faith when he moved there. He didn’t care he was going to be homeless. He didn’t care he was leaving with barely enough for a private room in a Hostel for the first two months of living there. He’d applied for every Dishwashing and Retail job he could during the train ride. He’d taken a Dishwashing job at one of the higher end restaurants two weeks after arriving in Miami Beach. He hoped to have enough over the next two months to be able to move into a studio apartment soon after his time was up at the Hostel. Even if it was barely enough money. 

He’d done all the math. He knew he’d be able to afford the studio apartment he had his eye on. He stocked up on the bare essentials with part of the first paycheck. He’d gotten food assistance that helped with food. He made just under the amount. He didn’t get much. It was enough for him. He got a free meal while at work. He’d always save it for when he was going back to the Hostel. He’d sit on the balcony of his apartment watching the sunrise as he ate. His overnight shifts were perfect for him. He’d always been a night owl. His boss loved how clean he kept the area throughout his shift as well as for the day shift. 

His co-worker Ben saw how hard Remi worked. Remi had been an openly Trans Man since he arrived in Miami Beach. People saw him as himself. People saw him healing from the trauma he’d been through the majority of his life. People saw him healing from the recent trauma that led him to moving to Miami Beach. He’d often be seen near the beach. It’s where he’d found peace. It’s where he’d often reflect on the life he’d had. On the life he wanted. He’d found himself. The leap of faith he’d taken led to the life he now had. A life that was now far better than he’d ever had before. He’d gone no contact with nearly everyone in the town he’d grown up in. He’d not kept in contact with the few he’d not cut contact with. He’d been working on himself. He’d been working to live a decent life for himself. He’d sent each of them a long message updating them on everything. That he was okay and happy. 

Three months had passed since he’d gotten the studio apartment. He’d become far happier since then. His second floor apartment had an ocean view despite being a few blocks from the ocean. It was a short walk to the beach. He’d stocked up on food knowing there was a chance the little food assistance he was getting would be cut considering he now had an apartment. Despite the fact he had barely enough to pay the bills. It’d been one of the reasons he’d stocked up on the basic essentials such as Deodorant, a two in one shampoo and conditioner as well as other bare essentials. To make sure he had enough for a while. It was the same with food. Pantry items being the bulk of what he’d gotten. Owen, Jude as well as a few other friends he’d made helped him move into the apartment. They’d helped him get everything he’d bought into the apartment on move in day. He didn’t care that it’d been a long day. He was able to watch the sunset from the balcony of his apartment. 

He’d spent most of his days off walking along the beach. He’d spent time trying various restaurants nearby. He spent time drawing again. He’d become a Public Speaker as time went on. He’d meet friends at some restaurant on the beach. To eat and catch up. His friends from back home surprised him one weekend by coming to visit him. They’d secretly gotten his schedule from his boss. They knew he’d be off that weekend. Ben had done that on purpose. So he’d have time with friends he’d not seen in a year. People who were happy he was finally doing as well as he is.