Beyond

First

~Valerie's POV~

6 a.m. and the fresh brewed coffee filled my nose as I grabbed four mugs and filled them with coffee. I put them on the tray along with milk and sugar and walked over to table 4.

"Here are the four cups of coffee" I smiled

"Its sad to see you leave Val. We really are gonna miss you."

I sat next to Barbra, the diner owner, and engaged in a conversation with her husband and one of my coworkers.

"I'm gonna miss coming in here and smelling the coffee" I laughed.

Its been two years since I started to work here in this small diner next to the beach. The sun was starting to rise looking absolutely beautiful. Two more hours and it would be my last time here. For a while at least.

"Go on" I heard Barbara say

"What?" I said looking away from the window

"There's good waves coming in right now and by the time your brother comes by you won't be able to ride the waves. Go on. Enjoy them" she patted my back

"Thank you so much Barbara. I promise I'll visit when I come to see my nonna." I hugged her and went back to get my bag and board.

~

Last one. I promised myself. Last wave I would probably ride a wave for a while. Even with the padding under my rash guard I can feel the cold water surrounding me. The 40 degree water made my fingers turn red.

Mid-September and I'm in the freezing waters of New Hampshire. Being from a small town called Glen Rose, I really don't have many friends. I'm classified as 'anti-social'. I classify it as 'independent soul' but who cares what others think.

I started to paddle out into the ocean. I felt the tip of my board start to slightly go up. As it did I slowly pushed myself up and balanced my weight on the board.

One last try

As the wave started to rise I found my spot and successfully rode the wave. I crossed my right foot in front of my left foot. Two more steps until I was at the tip of the board. When I crossed my left foot in front of my right foot I felt the board go uneasy. I stepped back to regain my equilibrium.

So close to the tip of the board. The closest I've been to a 'hang ten.'

Dad would have been proud.

"Valerie! It's time!" Vincent, my brother, called out to me

I let out a grunt and rode the wave until it died out. I dragged my surf board out with me and ran over to were I placed all my things. I grabbed the towel and wrapped it tightly around my body, the board under my hands. I ran back to where Vincent had the car started. I tightly secured the board on top of the car and threw my shoes and towel in the back seat. Vincent handed me over my warm clothes.

"Your nose is red" Vincent laughed as he cranked up the heat. Even with the cold weather nothing ever stopped me from surfing.

"Close your eyes!" I whined. He did as I said and I slipped off my rash guard, booties, and padding. I threw on my sweats and my brother's favorite hoodie over my head.

"Done" I breathed out.

"Where's kitty?" I asked about my cat.

"He's in his cage. Okay let's go"

I looked at the ocean one last time. The last time I would be in a small town that wasn't very populated. So small you couldn't even find it on a map. A few more surfers started to go out and catch a wave, but it's as if the ocean knew I was leaving and they died down.

New York is where my brother wanted to relocate. He claims to have find the perfect college and we are now on our way leaving all our memories behind to wash up one day on the shoreline.