It was five forty-five in the morning, Clair was running on Malibu beach as the sun was rising up. Her wavy brown hair was pulled up into a ponytail, swaying from side to side as her toned legs trans versed when she ran on the sand. She wore black athletic shorts, and a white tank top that clung to her slender torso, from the Sweat that trickled down her spine. Running was her stress reliever, it made time slip away and helped her to forget about reality. Running was her get away that pushed her to think, she was ecstatic that she was able to run more since it was summer. She is seventeen, a senior in high school. So, she never had time to do the activities she enjoyed, as a result from school and working.

Clair works at Café Con Leche, a coffee shop that’s a few minutes down from the beach. The café is shaped like a small cottage, the outside is a soft subtle golden honey yellow, and has milky white shudders. The interior is cozy, the walls are an imitation of the sky, Baby blue with clouds. The room makes you feel as if you are being cradled. Before working at the café Clair would come in to do her school work, or to buy her favorite medium roast coffee with French vanilla creamer, and liquid sugar. The way they made the coffee felt as if silk was caressing her tongue during every sip, it was that smooth.

She was hired when the manager recognized her, as she would always appear in the shop. So, one day the manager approached her and asked, “what is your name? And would you be interested in having a job here?”

Baffled, I said with excitement, “I would love to work here! I’m in this café all the time.” “Oh... and my name is Clair!” I was asked my age and availability on the spot, then was given an application. I was then called the next day and have worked there ever since, it has almost been a year.

My parents are Jasmine and Stephen, my mother is a photographer and my father is an author who writes poets. They are continuously traveling for new inspiration so I don’t see them much, and I’m home alone for weeks at a time but they’ve always prepared me for it, by teaching me how to cook, clean, and be a responsible young adult all around. I miss them, but I stay busy and I’ve grown accustomed to it.

Lately Clair has been having more free time since it’s the summer, she wants something to occupy her time at seventeen, something that will boost her confidence. Laying in her bed looking up at the ceiling, Clair was trying to think of an activity that will get her out of the safe zone, “what is an activity that’s close the beach, so that I can wind down when stressed?” as she made her way to the balcony looking out at the ocean Thinking to herself, her mind went blank in ideas for what she could do. She started pacing back and forth, about a minute went by and the idea of surfing popped up in her mind.

I don’t know how I didn’t think of it sooner. I always see surfers gliding over waves when I was outside on the balcony, or looking out the window at work. An activity at the beach is a bonus, I love the sound of the waves and the chattering of the birds. As soon as I realized this is what I wanted, I picked up my phone and called my friend Kalani, Kalani and I clicked instantly when we were in sixth grade and have been best friends since. Kalani would always try and persuade me to surf, but I was to nervous and not interested. Surfing is her sport, and something she has grown up doing.

“Hey Kalani, I was wondering if you could do me a favor.” I say on the phone sounding a bit suspicious.

“Hey Clair, what’s up?!” Kalani said anxiously.

“I was wondering if you’d like to teach me how to surf?”

“Really? But I thought you didn’t want to.”

“I changed my mind, I have so much more free time and I need to get out of my comfort zone.” “All I do is work, run, eat and sleep, so would you be willing to teach me?” Clair said hopefully.

“I’m so glad that your thoughts changed, of course I’ll teach you!”

“Okay, I’m really excited and I’ll text you when I’m free!”

“Alright, bye!”

A week later, on a Friday Kalani brought her surf board to Malibu beach. When Clair was finished getting ready, she drove to the beach and hopped out the car and shut the door. As she was walking down hunched over to the beach, her shoulders were in front appearing shorter then she really is. A bead of sweat on her forehead dropped as she walked slowly, while fluffy white clouds imitating the look of cotton fell over the sun. Walking lightly, her shoes barely made a sound as they hit the pavement. She was nervous, she was scared she would fail. She has never done something like this before, she wanted to turn around, make an excuse, and go home. But she couldn’t she had already made eye contact with Kalani who was making her way towards her.

Clair didn’t realize it at the time, but her breathing turned into heavy gulps for air, and her vision was blurred. Her heart started to race, and the sounds she was hearing turned to muffled echoes. Her hands started to perspire, as well as the rest of her body. She was having a panic attack. She paused, and uncontrollably started to shake. Kalani’s walk towards Clair turned into a run, she grabbed Clair and started training every breath she took.

I started to re-gain my breath, “I am so sorry Kalani.”

“Your fine, I understand. Do you want to try again tomorrow”?

“Maybe, I have to think about it.”

“Okay, take your time and if you need anything just call me!”

“Thank you, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

The next day Clair and Kalani meet at the beach, Kalani shows Clair how to surf step-by-step then slowly shows her how to do it altogether. Its Clair’s turn now, “take your time” Kalani says patiently.

Slowly Clair gets up on the surf board, as Kalani guides her. She falls again, again, and again into the cold crystal clear blue salty ocean. The salt is burning her eyes and is leaving a funny taste in her mouth, her fingers and toes are also beginning to prune. She’s tired, and it’s been at least an hour. She hasn’t been able to catch one wave yet. She try’s one last time for the day, the sun is coming down and she finally gets it. She conquered the wave, Clair feels accomplished.

Kalani and Clair scream with joy, the next day Clair bought a surf board of her own. Now her and Kalani surf together every Friday, surfing helped Clair to open herself up and try new things instead of staying closed off. Surfing gives her this new unexplainable positive feeling, it felt as if a missing hole had been filled. She finally found a hobby that makes her genuinely happy. Whenever she has free time she grabs her board and heads right down to the beach. Surfing is Clair’s new get away.