tide
Three bottles of sunblock clattered in my turquoise crochet bag as I took a step into the lumpy warm sand. I laid out on my towel and sprayed the silky bronzer on my bare palm, smearing a thick layer onto my body. With a piece of fabric, I veiled my eyes from the raging midday sun and jammed to the beat of the music. The blaring speaker playing Imagination by Foster the People on repeat. I closed my eyes, hearing the sounds of the waves washing up against the rocks.
“I feel like I’m burning alive,” complained Adela.
“Race you to the ocean.” I challenged.
“Bet.”
It all happened in a glimpse of a second. Time was of such short notice. We all had eagerly dashed to the shore because no one could withstand the summer heat. An immediate sense of refreshment grazed our bodies. We thanked the cold breeze because it was almost too perfect. Without a doubt in mind, we dove directly into the crisp water, oblivious of what was to come. The tide rose, swallowing my shoulders, and the current began to drag us inward slowly. My towel that had once been so clear in my view had disappeared from sight. I read the raw panic on Valentina’s face as I turned around and saw the massive body of water ready to engulf us into the depth of the ocean. Instances before my heart sank, I screamed, “under!” Hoping my friends had heard me in time to react. I gasped for a short breath and submerged into the darkness of the wave before I could give it the chance to swallow me whole. But it wasn’t enough. Time stopped underwater. My limbs were fighting a current too strong to withstand while attempting to stick my head out for a gasp of fresh air. Salty water entering my nose and mouth, filling my lungs. It dragged me in between the sand, but as I was catching my breath, yet again with no warning, water came gushing down. My head throbbing. Saltwater burned my eyes. Blur in my vision. Shortness of breath. Dizziness. Desperately looked around in search of the girls, but I saw no one.
I felt an object graze my leg. As I reached down to see what it was, I realized it was a familiar foot. I felt a sense of relief to have found someone so familiar in an unknown ocean. I grabbed her by her ankle, and we let the current drag us to the shore.
I had pieces of shells within the thin layers of hair that covered my face. Grains of sand covered every inch of my body. Dazed, we looked at each other; no one knew how to react. Once we made it out, we sank ourselves into the warm sand that assured safety. No one spoke; we remained silent until we got to the parasol. I let out a quick chuckle, and right after, all of us laughed.
Nowadays, we contemplate back to this moment and burst out laughing uncontrollably. Although we have a terrifying fear of the violent ocean, it brought us together.
