Riptide

The torches flickered as the sacrifice began. I wanted nothing to do with the secret society. Even their few was still too many. I slipped into the shadows to study for my upcoming exams.

Test day arrived with its normal nail‑biting anxieties. I ended the semester with my hard‑earned A’s. While walking to my vehicle, someone collided with me in the parking lot.

The jolt threw me off balance. Lost Freshman? Excited graduate? Thief?  I was surprised to see a member from the secret society. Not a word was exchanged, but we briefly made eye contact. I could sense his shame and fear as he quickly vanished among the vehicles.

I suddenly turned to a loud commotion behind me. There was a group of students chasing him. Their swords were drawn, and their armor twinkled in the twilight. “Did you just cheat on that exam?” someone shouted at him. I lost sight of them as they continued the pursuit.

My mind reeled while racing home. That could have been me! Certainly, he and his friends would be expelled. Their adventures were over. The secret society had collapsed.

I later told Ashley and my grandmother about the path I didn’t choose. They were both proud and captured by the story. I then boldly professed that I was the master of my universe (dangerous talk). There was no class I couldn’t conquer by my own wits. There would never be a need to cheat. I was very much looking forward to the next semester and eventually graduating.

The fall semester came with high hopes. I was excited to be in my Behavioral Psychology class when the professor announced a take‑home test. I had to measure one emotion for three weeks on a graph. I vaguely remember the professor saying, “Be careful which emotion you choose.” I didn’t put much thought into his warning, because I was only thinking about my grades. I could have chosen happiness, surprise, anger… but I went with anxiety…

“Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing; I have come into deep waters, and the floods overflow me.”

Psalm 69:1-2