*Opening Scene: There is destruction all around, sirens are blaring, but it is calm, the spot light focuses in on a news reporter collecting stories of what has happened.*
GALEN: Where was I? I was relaxing. My toes had sunk deep into the sand. Each one tried to wrap around the fleeting particles as water passed by. Oh and the sun! It was so bright! Shining from the horizon towards the land. It found its way through even the squint of my eyes. I turned for relief and found comfort in my new gaze. And the sun became a blanket around my shoulders. Each wave established my feet further and further into the earth. I could’ve stayed there forever. The water rose with each swell, and I could feel the level creep up my legs. I figured the tide must be moving or something like that, I was comfortable.
…
There were others in the water, and I could hear them begin to get noisy. I figured that it must have been someone’s birthday, or maybe someone won a stupid game. But the cheering intensified, and I could hear them shout, “Get ready!” I remember thinking, they couldn’t possibly be yelling at me, could they? And off the record, If I can be honest here, I was actually quite annoyed by them. Like, could they not see that I was relaxing, falling deeper into a dreamy state with each wave, and the sun dancing across my skin!?! But as the waves died down, I could still hear those people shouting
Their shouts kept pulling me back into the world that, and quite frankly, I was trying to mentally escape. Not like forever! Just for a moment! Sheesh, that’s a morbid thing to say, now, do you get what I was trying to say? I was only trying to momentarily escape in my mind, not die.
…
Anyway, they continued to shout to the point that I could no longer ignore them. It was in that moment that everything changed. They were trying to save me. And now my feet had sunk too deep. I began to join their screams, but mine were a different tone: I didn’t know if I could get out in time. One of them paddled over to try to release me. Holding on to their board, they dove down to dig out my feet. As my left foot began to gain mobility, another shouted, “It’s coming!” The one that came over said, “I’m sorry, it is too late. I have to get on my board.” I began to feel the intensity of the current being sucked back. The kind of undertow that makes your knees buckle. It didn’t take much of an expert to know that something massive was coming. The world became silent for a moment and I thought the forbidden, “Am I about to die?” The preliminary waves came and covered my head. Screaming in between breaths, I pulled and pulled at my foot. “HELP ME!” My thoughts soften.
…
I'm not ready to die.
…
I couldn’t accept my fate. It would take a miracle, and truly I should be dead. But something greater than that wave must have heard me. Immediately, I was released, and my feet were free. Still in shock at my new hope, and before I could even celebrate. The one on the board quickly grabbed me and pulled me on, and he screamed “HOLD ON!” I grabbed the board as tightly as I could, and we began to be lifted over the entire beach. The wave continued to launch us past the dunes and into the street. We rode over the roofs, streets, and trees.
It saturated the town. As I looked out, I saw that people were waiting on the roof with their boards
Shouting like the others: “It’s coming!” It was perplexing; not one of them was moved by the inevitable destruction of their beloved places of rest. Each of them joyfully welcomed the wave ahead. How did they all know? How is it that after all this time, I never knew? My life flashed before me on that board. And my face was no longer wet from just the mist of the wave. I will never forget it.
THE EXPERT'S WITNESS: I’m not special; I just listened. I was walking to go surfing one day when this man on the boardwalk asked me if I knew about the wave coming, “So big that it will be the ride of your life, or it will take you out.” While the news seemed simple to many of my friends, It deeply moved me. I made it my mission to tell everyone! I posted signs, told people on the street corners, even went door to door once. I started going to the beach a few minutes early, just in case I had the chance to tell someone. Then the big day came!
…
No one knew the exact time or day of the wave, but I was told there would be signs leading up to it. And sure enough, on the day of the wave, when I woke up, I just knew. I grabbed my board and ran out, but this time I didn’t speak to a soul. I had a wave to catch!! I could feel that something big was coming, and the undertow confirmed it. I was so excited! My conscience was clear, I did all I could do! Now I was ready for the ride of my life! Until, that’s when I noticed someone was standing in the water without a board. I screamed and shouted. I didn’t want to move and lose my spot, but she wouldn’t move! I couldn’t take it any longer! Even if it meant that I were to die trying to save her, how could I live knowing that I didn’t at least try? I paddled over to find that her feet were deep in the sand. I plunged down to try to dig her out in time. Yet, despite my efforts, I could only get her close but not free.
…
You can’t force someone to believe the truth
They have to experience it
…
I went back on my board, trying to stomach her fate and yet enjoy mine. Then, the impossible happened, truly a miracle. There was no way, but I saw it with my own eyes, so maybe there was.
…
Something greater than the wave saved her.
*overcome with emotions, he could no longer speak, the reporter gestured to the camera man to stop recording*
END SCENE