Color I Jack Yang

Color

Jack Yang ‘24

The menacingly overcast blanketed the horizon for as far as I could see. I took off my shoes and trekked through the sand until cold, unwelcoming waves lapped at my toes. Shivering, I waded farther into the vast and turbulent ocean. Suddenly, I was knocked off balance as a current swept me under. Tumbling and twirling, I tried to stand to breathe but did not know which way was up. Salty, briny water cascaded into my mouth as I started to panic. My nose was stinging and I felt like throwing up because of the horribly salty water. The hungry, relentless waves came one after another as if it were their life’s mission to drown me. My lungs were burning from the salt and they were about to burst from the lack of oxygen. Suddenly, I felt solid ground under my feet, and desperately propelled myself upward. Thrusting my head out of the water, my lungs breathed a sigh of relief as fresh, crisp air flled them up. For the frst time, I realized that the clouds were moving away. Clearing my eyes from the dripping saltwater, I noticed the beach was not far away from me. Cruel, never-ending surges of water crashed into me, but I stroked determinedly toward the sea of sand. Finally, I felt soft, comforting sand under my toes and lay down, exhausted. Gazing across the peaceful and smooth ocean, I could not believe this was the same savage, tempestuous vortex of water that almost took my life. Completely soaked through and wondering if this taste of salt would ever leave my mouth, I found myself looking up at a sky of blue.