The sun beats down on the shore, the sand hot beneath your feet. You laugh as you wade deeper, not noticing how quickly the current tugs you off balance. A sudden crash of waves knocks you sideways, and before you can steady yourself, your ankle twists hard against a hidden rock. Pain shoots up your leg, leaving you floundering in waist-deep water.

You grit your teeth and try to stand, but the sea keeps dragging you down. Then a shadow falls across you, and a strong hand grips your arm. “Hold still—I’ve got you,” a voice says, firm yet reassuring.

They guide you toward the beach with surprising ease, each step steady where yours falter. When you finally collapse onto the warm sand, breathless and aching, you glance up. The lifeguard who caught you stands tall against the sun, water dripping from their skin, gaze scanning you with sharp concern. In that moment, it’s clear—they saw you struggling before you even realized you needed help.