The sun shone brightly over the beach as the 126 crew enjoyed a rare day off together. Paul, Mateo, Nancy, and Marjan were deep into a competitive game of beach volleyball, their laughter echoing over the sound of the waves. Grace, Tommy, and Judd stood waist-deep in the water, chatting with beers in hand, while TK and Carlos lounged on the shore, content to soak up the sun.

Owen, your boyfriend, had been eager to share one of his childhood passions with you: surfing. Growing up in New York, he’d spent countless summers riding the waves. He was a natural, but you? You’d never set foot on a surfboard in your life. Yet here you were, standing knee-deep in the water with him, trying to catch your balance on the board as he patiently guided you through the basics.

"You’re doing great," Owen encouraged, his voice steady and reassuring as he steadied the board beneath you. "Let’s try riding this one together first."

With his help, the two of you caught a small wave, and for a moment, you felt the thrill of it—the exhilaration of gliding across the water. When Owen decided it was time for you to try solo, you were nervous but trusted him. He set you up on a gentle, rolling wave, cheering you on as you found your footing. But just as you started to feel confident, two larger waves came out of nowhere, slamming into you.

The force knocked you off the board, pulling you under the churning water. Panic set in as the salty sting burned your throat and lungs. You flailed, trying to surface, but the waves seemed relentless. Just as you felt your strength faltering, a strong arm wrapped around you, hoisting you up.

"I’ve got you," Owen’s voice was calm but urgent as he held you tightly against him, his hand steadying you as you coughed and sputtered. Your whimpers softened as he rubbed your back, his other hand brushing the hair from your face.