It all started with a thought – an irresistible urge for adventure. I longed for somewhere small yet tranquil, communnitive yet welcoming, warm yet bearable. The place? Holden Beach, North Carolina.

It began with the overpass – the only road connecting the mainland to the island. This overpass would not solely be symbolic of the medium from one world to another, but a portal between expectations to reality. When I would eventually cross it 

one final time, I was not returning home the same man I was before. I’d be carrying back new memories, renewed bonds, and personal growth I never expected yet have shaped my daily life forever thereafter.

Before reaching the beach house, we rode through the small town for the first time; opposed to the endless shopping malls and mega-stores I was accustomed to seeing back home in Jersey, I experienced small town America. Just rows of family-owned shops, old signs, and clean streets where neighbors gathered at the local bagel shack passed me by, ready to leap out at a moments notice.

The cloudless, bright blue sky laid in front of me; I sensed a strong feeling of authenticity I hadn’t felt in years. As the car raced over the overpass, the beaches looked quiet and were longing to be embraced. This wasn’t merely a getaway; it felt like stepping into a world where time moves slow and smiles stayed longer.

My arrival in the early afternoon could not be perfected. After unpacking and gaining insight on my bearings for the next week, I dived into the pool like there was no tomorrow; after all, who could blame me? I needed to do something enjoyable after sitting in the car for twelve hours. As the evening rolled on by, storm clouds reared their faces from the distance and, not long thereafter, greyed the entire world around me.

Although upset, I took it as a sign to help my family unpack groceries and catch up on much-needed rest for the next day; I had a great deal planned!

But perfection doesn’t always last.

I woke up mid-morning thinking it was still night – the sky was that dark. As I turned to my side to face the window, the truth settled in: the storm was here to stay. Everything I had dreamed about -- laying out on the beach, swimming with friends, exploring the island that I called home for the next six days seemed like a distant thought. It felt like summer had skipped us entirely as the sight of waves crashing in choppy chaos consumed me.

As I walked up the stairs for breakfast, it was as if the storm was following my every move; rain slapped the windows and thunder took the sky as I hunched over the table, watching time wash away like the sand at high tide.