A wave washed close enough to touch my feet, and I leapt backwards to avoid it.
I had less time than I had thought.
"Okay," Julie said. "Now what?"
The water was up to her midriff. I had to shout above the roar of the surf.
"Now, as you go deeper, feel the sea around you becoming one with the sea inside you."
"What?"
"You've got to trust me on this, Julie. You've got to."
"I'll try."
She moved a little further out.
I took another look over my shoulder.
Nothing yet.
I looked back at Julie. She had stopped moving, and was facing shore again.
"Can you feel it?" I called.
She shook her head.
"I don't know."
"Move a little deeper!"
She shook her head again.
"I'm coming out."
She started toward me. I wanted to scream. If I only could have made myself go into the water.
"No!" I shouted. "Go back. This is our last chance."
"What do you mean?"
There was still no activity at the restaurant.
"Back to where you were," I shouted. "Now!"
Julie backed up a few steps.
"Okay, Okay."
"You've got to think," I shouted. "No!—Feel! You've got to feel the sea. Feel yourself becoming one with the sea. Feel the water moving over your fins. Feel your…
"My fins?"
She walked toward me again.
"I can't do this."
I shouted louder.
"…Feel your dreams, Julie. What you really want out of life…"
She was out of the water. She was going to walk right past me.
"I'm going to get ready now."
I stepped in front of her to block her way.
"No, Julie, you don't understand. You've got to get in touch. You've got to find out what you really want. Promise me you'll keep trying, Julie. Promise me."
She tried to step around me. I stepped in her way again.
"Clarence, please. I don't want to be a dolphin."
