"So, how is it?"

I smiled. "Overwhelming."

The smell of the sea had settled on my tongue as a salty but not unpleasant taste. My toes dug naked into the sand, though the temperatures weren't really conducive to that. I didn't care. I wasn't freezing.

A light breeze caressed my face, cool, a little rough. I thought I could hear the waves crashing against the shore in unison with it. My heartbeat seemed to have picked up the rhythm. Steady, strong, soothing.

"Come on, roll up your pant legs. I want to get closer."

I nodded. Her enthusiasm was contagious. I didn't need to see her to know about the wild grin on her face that ignited a little flame in my belly every time.

I felt dizzy briefly as I got to my knees, but it was over quickly. I wrapped my fingers around the edge of the fabric and hurried to shorten my pants. Excitement had taken hold of me now and I stood back up faster than was good for me.

Her arm hooked purposefully at me as I swayed for a moment, and suddenly I had to laugh.

"What's wrong?"

I inhaled deeply, tasting the salt, the tang, the vastness of the ocean. Snorting, I released the air.

"It's okay." I squeezed her arm to reassure her. "It's all right. Let's go."

Together we started moving and the sound of the waves, sloshing and gurgling, grew louder and louder. My feet sank into the trickling ground with each step and I struggled a bit to keep my balance. Then I felt the sand change, become firmer, cooler. First damp, then wet.

"Watch out, wave!"

Her warning came a little too late and the shock of the icy water hit my feet and ankles. I squealed for a second, but did not back away. Then I laughed again.

This was good. It was important.

I leaned over and whispered, "Thank you."

With a squeeze of her warm hand, she confirmed that she had heard me, though the constant rise and fall of the sea filled our ears. I didn't need to be able to see her to know her promise.

The tiny waves lapped at my skin, caressing me, biting with tiny, cold teeth. With my eyes closed, I listened for the undertow that swirled the water around my feet.

I didn't need to be able to see the ocean to feel its mightiness, its aliveness. Its nature was constant change.

All at once I knew I could do it. I could adapt and be, at least a little, like the ocean.