Ellie took up a handful of sand, letting it blow away between her fingers. "It is," she repeated decisively. Your experience is what you make of it.
Not that that was true, really. Subjectivity only took a person so far. It was at work here, too -- David thought the world was a mess, and Ellie gave the carnage a cursory glance alone. The happiness of others touched at her heart, though. It felt almost like her own: easy enough to adopt their smiles and carefree words. David's were easiest.
Ellie turned slightly to face him now, resting a hand briefly on his knee. Dog lifted her head too, curious.
"It's yours," she murmured, smile taking a more mischievous turn.