What was supposed to be a relaxing day at the beach turned into a fight for survival
It was a cloudy autumn morning when James and Maria decided to take one last trip to their favorite beach before their little one arrived. Maria was nine months pregnant and her due date was fast approaching, but she was determined to make this final memory before the arrival of their first child.
Although James was hesitant about going, he could see the excitement in his wife’s eyes and decided to go along with her plans. As they packed their bags, James decided to bring his polaroid camera to capture some special moments on their trip. They set off early in the morning, driving through the countryside enveloped in an overcast sky.
James glanced at the dark, misty skies ahead, feeling a surge of worry as if the weather itself was warning them to turn back. Yet, they continued driving straight towards it. He turned to see his wife, content and unworried in the passenger seat, and chose to push his concerns aside. The thought of stepping onto the sand and feeling the ocean breeze was too enticing. They had no idea that their calm beach day was about to take a dark turn…
When they arrived at the beach, they were delighted to find that they had the entire place to themselves. The weather was cool but comfortable, and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore was soothing. Maria was overjoyed to be there and she smiled as she breathed in the fresh sea air.
James, stepping onto the beach, felt a wave of hesitation wash over him. As he watched Maria’s face light up with excitement, his own heart was heavy with a silent dread. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to be there; the beach was beautiful, and he loved seeing her so happy. But with Maria’s due date just around the corner, he couldn’t shake off a nagging sense of worry.
What if something happens?, he thought to himself, scanning the deserted beach for any sign of help should they need it. This wasn’t about him being afraid; it was about being a soon-to-be dad who wanted nothing more than to keep his family safe.
As he followed Maria’s joyful steps, his protective instinct was in overdrive, even as he tried to hide it behind a smile. Everything’s going to be okay, he reassured himself, taking a deep breath of the salty air, hoping it would calm his racing thoughts.