It was calm and sunny, at the start of summer weather in the South. Where the humidity had just begun to get harsh. There lies a place in the state of Georgia, a general store with a wooden door shut to keep the humid air away. The store owner walked around the store, straightening the goods in his store. He just opened the store just after dusk. He then sat back at the counter and waited for customers to come into his store. Then in a matter of minutes, the wooden door to the store suddenly opens, and humid air flows into the store. A red-haired man walked into the store with a blue t-shirt and khakis; The man carried a hiking backpack on his shoulder and had a smile on his face as he walked and immediately grabbed a red and orange aluminum sunscreen. The man is  average height. The man also grabbed 2 bottles of water. The store owner said with a smile as he approached as he entered the counter 

“ The usual stuff Atlas?”

Atlas nodded and plopped the goods on a counter. When he was a child, his father, mother, and he usually visited the east coast of Georgia yearly when he was a child. The store owner then asked 

“ How is your father? 

Atlas grinned and said 

“ He is well, probably kayaking with my mother in the Amazon by now.”

Atlas’s father is retired and happily spends his time exploring the world. A dream of his when all the children are independent and he has a massive amount of free time.

The store owner laughed and said 

“ He was always the one to be adventurous. He always wanted to find someplace to explore when we were kids. I was the calm one in the family and he was the different one. A trait that you learned well.”

“ I’m thankful that you say that. But, my father has way more energy. I haven't hiked nearly as much as him or explored different places. “

Atlas replied to the store owner. 

The store owner scanned the items at the register and Atlas paid for the items with a wad of cash. The store owner said to Atlas as he was about to leave 

“ I hope for an adventure to come soon to you. Adventures change the way you see the world. You think you don’t have as much energy as your father. However, once you find something your energy skyrockets.”

Atlas came around the register and hugged the store owner. 

“ Thank you, uncle. I’m 20 years old, I have so much time to find a time for adventure. Maybe I can find some place l can map like the explorers of old. ”

He left with his items and left the store. He grimaced as the outside warm hair hit him when he was outside. He walked to the end of a one-man wooden pier. Atlas passed one man and a woman who were untying their boat and said something that made Atlas listen to the conversation 

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“ We better go quickly, I don't want to be fishing in the storm.”

A female voice said to the man. The woman's husband said with a huff,

“ We’ll be fine, we will be done before the storm even begins.”

Atlas immediately thought

So there is a storm coming? I will be fine. Just have to be more wary than usual

Atlas walked to his blue striped and white boat and unhooked the boat from the metal hook as he got in. Atlas placed his backpack on the passenger seat across from him. He grabbed the ignition of the boat and the boat engine awakened. A thought came across him as he about to speed off 

What about my lifejacket? Everytime I go boating, I’ve had no accidents. 

 Atlas pushed the gas forward into the water and out of the harbor. He looked out into the water and heard the water brush up against the boat enjoying the time in the open water. 

Now, Atlas was paying attention to the direction the boat was going. A warm, humid, unsettling breeze came from the East. The breeze brought shivers throughout his skin. Miles east he found a calm place in the sea and put the motor high enough to keep the ship stationary. Atlas then walked up to the motor part of the ship sat on the edge of the ship and put his feet in the water. A feeling he always likes the stress from on the land has been lifted. 

After several minutes, Atlas decided to take a nap on the sea and lay on the cushions. 

Dark clouds crept in unaware Atlas as he slept. The clouds were above Atlas when a raindrop landed on his eyelids. The wind picked up and Atlas opened his eyes and he went wide as he saw the dark clouds in the sky. He immediately got up and ran and sat in the pilot seat of the boat. One thought was an immediate 

I don’t want to be in his storm

He kicked the motor into high gear and began turning. The storm blew harder and the current pulled the ship out as it seemed to refuse to let Atlas escape. Atlas turned the wheel and the ship creaked as turned against an increasingly strong current. 

It was only a rainstorm? 

Atlas clearly remembers the first time he woke up to see light rain for the marine weather reports. Atlas began heading towards the port at full speed. However, the motorboat couldn’t help but be dragged by a superior current. Atlas looked back and saw in terror, a towering wave the height of multi-story apartments. A wave that Atlas could only grab onto a piece of wood as the monstrosity of a wave crashed into him. He held his breath and closed his eyes before impact.

The waves submerged Atlas and his boat, the current ripped at him and the ship. Atlas could only helplessly hold on to the ship for dear life. 

Blind, Atlas could only hear from the crunches of metal, the ripping of the ship, and he could only hope to live. Then, the wood he held on broke off from the ship. His body started being tossed by the current. At the same time, he felt his lungs running out of air, so with all of his might he swam to the surface while being pushed around. He briefly was on the surface, allowing himself to take a large breath of air, and then another wave took him under. His body flew like a rag doll still hanging on the wood. As soon as he was under, a massive surge of pain was in his rib. A pain he couldn’t explain why and then he felt something metal hit his face. 

Frick, I’m injured, underwater, I guess this is the end. Dammit! I should have brought that life jacket.

He struggled to keep himself from being passed out and relied on using his adrenaline to keep himself up. The effort was in vain, he felt another surge of pain too great for him to be conscious. As he was tossed by the current he thought

I hoped to see more but alas..

his thoughts drifted as he fell unconscious.