Deceptive

I took the ferry to Fire Island and spent the afternoon on the beach with Danya. It was so relaxing that I actually nodded off on my blanket. When I awoke, it was after 6 and the beach was empty. The lifeguards were gone, the beachgoers had all left, and Danya was off on a stroll. I went to the water, planning to wade in to my upper thighs. But the waves kept breaking on me, so I went out a little farther. Suddenly, I couldn't feel the ocean floor anymore. I tried riding the waves back in, but they only pulled me under and away from the shore. I was now 20 yards east of where I entered, and very far out. The harder I tried to swim to shore, the more I got pulled under and away.

I started to realize that I wasn't going to be able to get to shore on my own. And there was no one on the beach. I panicked, thrashed around, and was pulled under again. Two women walked along the shoreline in front of me, oblivious to me. I screamed, "HELP ME! HELP!" but I was so far from shore that they didn't hear me. They'd almost walked out of earshot, and I thought my last hope was gone.

Oh my God, I will actually drown here.

I screamed one last time, and one of the women looked over. They stopped, looking confused. I screamed, "GET HELP!" and one ran off while the other waded into the water toward me. She instructed me to swim west, parallel to the shore. I did, and I made some progress. Finally I was able to ride a wave in far enough to feel the ocean floor again -- and I knew I would be okay.

By now the second woman had returned with a man, and the three pulled me out. I trembled as I sank into my beach chair. I thanked them for their help, and they all went on their way.

I soberly pondered my fate for a few minutes. And then burst into tears. Once I regained some composure, I phoned my husband and told him I love him.

Then I took this photo.