“ What a year this is,” Josh said as he jumped down from the back of the light-duty truck with an open cargo area at the back. Others followed as the vehicle was parked at the beach garage. David, Michael, Selina, and Sarah joined others to carry the cooler with chilled drinks. Josh carried the music player and beach mats as well. They are heavily prepared as they usually are. “ It is the first day of the year”.
The beach stretches wide as a fresh breeze welcomes them, looking further, they see a golden carpet of sand glowing under the last colors of the setting sun. The waves rolled in rhythmically, as their white crests caught the light before dissolving at the shoreline with a soothing hiss and the palm trees swayed gently to the evening breeze. Different groups gathered near booming speakers, and the music was beating like a second heartbeat. It was Michael's first time at the beach and excitement bubbled inside him like the restless waves ahead. Normally, he has been scared to visit the beach because of the Tsunami incident and the video he watched. He had also studied that the sea level in his town is very high, and the probability that a Tsunami can happen is one that was the source of his phobia.
David and Josh laughed mockingly and gigantically at him. “ This is my third year of visiting any beach on the first day of January,” David uttered loudly. “You'd better have great fun today that you are here, as we don't know when it will last,” Josh replied, holding Michael’s shoulder as they all walked close to the sea. Looking around, some people are dancing in the sand, and their feet were kicking up grains as laughter and cheers blended with the thump of the bass, which created an atmosphere that was both wild and carefree while others indulged in one thing or the other that kept them either busy or at peace, having fun.
“ I am going in,” David said and continued.
“ You did better convince your friend that swimming in the sea is full of fun,” David concluded, pointing at Josh before running towards the sea. Josh gave Michael a pat on his shoulder and ran after David after a few minutes. It is not that Michael can't swim at all; he does swim in a pool, so he summoned the courage to look at the waves, which were wild that afternoon, though the sky was calm and blue. He had always admired the sea from afar but that day he dared to step deeper than ever before. The water was cool, the sun was high, and laughter from the beachgoers filled the air, but he couldn't find his friends either. For a while, he felt free, by floating and swimming, being carried by the rhythm of the tide. But all of a sudden, without warning, a strong current seized him. It pulled at his legs firmly by dragging him farther and farther from the shore. He struggled to retrieve himself and his arms flailing against the water, but the sea was stronger. The sound of laughter and music grew faint until there was nothing but the roar of waves. His panic turned to exhaustion, and his body weakened, and soon the fight left him. The sea swallowed him whole, rolled him under its endless weight and everything went dark.
An hour passed and his friends noticed he was missing and they searched frantically, calling his name, alerting lifeguards, and combing the shoreline. David and Josh kept blaming each other for convincing him to swim, and left him without even looking back to see if he was following or not. Just as everyone's hope had faded to submission, the oceans stirred. A great wave rose and crashed towards the beach, which tossed Michael's limp body onto the sand. People rushed to him as his chest was still and his lips were pale. David began pressing his chest, and Josh immediately tilted his head back, urging him to breathe. Then, after tense moments, a sound was heard and a cough erupted from his lungs. Salt water spilled from his mouth as he gasped desperately for air.
The crowd cheered as relief flooded the beach. Tears rolled down his friend's faces as they held his trembling body while carrying him to a lie on a sandbank. Michael lay there, staring at the sky alive but forever changed as the sea had taken him, tested him, and returned him luckily.
“ We are sorry and to blame for pushing you too hard,” David and Josh said together, looking at him as happy as ever, but Michael answered, “It is not your fault in any way, no one can make you do something you truly don't want,” and he continued. “ Your words only unlock what was already in me” he concluded as they leaned into the effort by gripping his hand tightly to pull him from the sandbank. They laughed together and went home. “What a year this is,” Josh said as they walked away.