Leave his only piece of clothing behind.

His heart racing at the thought, Nate left his trunks on a fallen tree and started walking away. They were still in sight, and he could probably sprint if he heard someone coming, but the longer he continued, the more distance there was between him and his only piece of clothing, and the harder it would be to get to them again. He kept walking forward.

He heard no one. He reached a spillage of sand that he could walk up to leave the safety of the woods. With nothing else to do, he made his way up the steep sand.

He poked his head out and looked around. There was no one nearby that could be heard or seen. Cautiously, he stepped up until he was crouched on the level sand. If anyone were to come by they would surely see him. He dared to stand and could see the ocean. He could see people by the water’s edge, sunbathing. They were distant. If they turned around and saw him he would be as small to them as they were to him. They might see a naked man, or perhaps someone with a small swimsuit close to the shade of their skin.

Nate quickly looked around again, telling himself not to get distracted, as someone might sneak up on him. He turned left and ventured farther into the dunes, away from the direction of his parents whence he came, and putting even more distance between him and his swim trunks. If he came upon anyone walking the opposite direction there would be nowhere to hide.