Chapter 21 - The First Time Elise Asked for the Ocean
Elise was nine when she asked:
“Can we go to beach?”
I froze.
We had gone to lakes.
Pools.
Never ocean.
I had avoided without announcing.
“Which beach?”
“Outer Banks.”
School friend invited.
My body screamed no.
My mind said:
Fear is not evidence.
We went.
My father insisted on coming.
I said no.
He came separately “coincidentally.”
I threatened to send him home.
Mom laughed.
The ocean was calm.
Elise ran toward water.
I could not move.
She turned.
“Mom?”
“I’m coming.”
I walked.
Water touched ankles.
Then knees.
Nothing happened.
No tow rope.
No Victoria.
No dock.
Just Atlantic.
Elise splashed me.
I shouted.
She laughed.
May you like
That night I slept nine hours.
A personal miracle.
