“Come in the water with me!” screams my 10-year-old cousin across the beach.

I sit up on my sea turtle towel in slow motion, in no mood to get sand in my bathing suit, salt water in my hair, and sunscreen in my eyes, but a day earlier, I promised my cousin I would teach her how to boogie board, so I had to get into the water. I hoist myself off the towel and plant my feet in the burning, hot sand. I tiptoe across the beach with burning feet towards the cool water where my cousin awaits me.

I take my cousin’s hand in mine and her boogie board in the other as we slowly submerge into the ocean. We stop when the water rises up to my cousin’s neck, but only up to my chest. I get her settled on the boogie board as I tell her, “Patience.”

After a few moments, a wave forms on the horizon. I tell my cousin to kick her feet when I start to push her towards the shore. She does just that, merging with the wave. After she slides onto the wet sand of the beach, she stands up and heads back to me. As she’s splashing through the water getting closer to my location, a huge wave comes up and crashes right on top of her, taking her under.

I cut through the water as fast as I can, searching for a blonde head to pop out of the water. After what feels like minutes, I hear a coughing fit mixed with shrieks coming from behind me. I twirl around and see the tear-covered face of my cousin. At that moment, I realize I was holding my breath. I make my way towards her. When I reach her, I embrace her into a tight hug and we head back to the land together.