43: The Unsung Hero

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * O N E   Y E A R   L A T E R SOMEWHERE IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * [ R Y D E R ] I heard somewhere that before you die, you would see your whole life flash before your eyes. I think I just saw that. There were bits and pieces of everything in my life. I saw flashes of memories of playing with my mother when I was young. I saw the first day of elementary school, the day when we found out my mom got sick, the day I won my first surf championship, that night I went drinking cheap beers with my buddies at the beach, and then there was Kara. I remembered seeing her smile. We were sitting at our secret beach, watching the stars, and she gave me this smile that was so perfect, I swear she had melted my brains out. Then I remembered the first time we met, she was standing in front of my garage. Her chocolate brown hair was blowing gently in the wind, and she just looked at me, not saying a word. But her