Just like the Space Rangers hovering in outer space, looking out at the planets, you can see the real world doesn’t look at all like you expected: everything seems smaller, simpler, quieter at a distance. The real world is all an illusion. It’s all in how you see it.

Sanctuary

30 | Karina

January 1, 2015

Micah arrived with Jeremy and August the next morning to help Karina move. As they all carried boxes down to the parking lot, Karina recalled how different it had felt in September, lugging her stuff alone after James’s unexpected betrayal. She realized with satisfaction that New Year’s Eve had just passed without even a thought of James or his proposed reunion. When the apartment was emptied, Karina felt no nostalgia as she left her keys on the kitchen counter. Before they drove off, Micah said, “We should do something special to celebrate Karina moving in. How about we drive down the coast to that cove with the awesome burrito shack and catch some waves?” He turned to Karina. “Have you ever surfed?”

Karina shook her head. She had spent short periods of time at the beach over the last few years: at a freshman orientation party, a field trip with one of her environmental science classes, the weekend she and James lost their virginity together. She had always stayed on shore to be safe, though she enjoyed the sensation of her feet pressing into packed wet sand and the water lapping at her ankles.

Micah opened the van door. “I’ll teach you. You’ll love it.”

Karina tried to fight the nervous energy building in her chest as she followed the van in her car, but by the time they arrived at the cove, she was on edge about what was to come. The roar of the water filled her ears. The guys stripped down to their shorts and Micah untethered the surfboards that were always tied to the top of his van. “I’ll just watch this time,” Karina said. “I don’t have a suit.”

Micah dusted sand from the boards. “You can wear my wet suit.” He tossed it to her, turned to face the ocean, closed his eyes and inhaled deeply; then he hoisted the board under his arm and began running toward the beach. August and Jeremy took off after Micah with the other board. Standing there alone, Karina stepped into the wetsuit, feeling herself caught between the attraction that drew her toward Micah and the fear that held her back. She took a deep breath and followed them down to the water’s edge.

August and Jeremy got into the water while Micah stayed on the beach to explain the basic principles of surfing to Karina, drawing out a phantom board with a stick in the sand. He showed her where to position her feet when she stood up and how to balance her weight; he had her practice “popping up” from the face-down paddling position to standing. All this required concentration and core strength, and she found herself perspiring in the sun.