Scholastic Award Winner: The Waves of Memory The Waves of Memory Silver Key in Flash Fiction By Ike Dark clouds loomed over the small coastal town of Clearwater. Jess stood at the edge of the pier, her fiery red hair whipping in the wind. She gripped the wooden railing, her knuckles white, as the tumultuous sea mirrored the storm in her mind. Images of her father flashed before her eyes—the day the ocean swallowed him whole. She closed her eyes, hearing his laughter mixed with the roar of the waves. The memory of his final moments, the helplessness she felt, threatened to pull her under. But beneath the fear, a stubborn resolve burned within her. She took a deep breath, the salted air filling her lungs. “I have to do this,” she whispered to herself, her gaze hardening. “For him. For me.” ** “Meteorologists have just issued a storm warning for ocean travels!” someone shouted from the crowd with a voice tense with urgency. The townspeople had gathered, anxiously watching the sky as dark clouds thickened, the storm now almost certain. Jess, a marine biologist, knew she had to retrieve critical data from the buoy before it was lost to the sea. She tightened her grip on her bag, her heart pounding. Her mother grabbed her arm, eyes wide with fear. “Jess, you can’t go out there. It’s too dangerous.” “I have to,” Jess replied, her voice steady despite the surrounding chaos. “That buoy has critical data. If I don’t retrieve it, our entire project is ruined. Everyone’s jobs are at stake.” A murmur of concern spread through the crowd. “Please, Jess,” her mother pleaded, “think about your safety.” Jess looked at her mother’s desperate face, then back to the anxious crowd. “I am thinking about it,” she said softly. “But I can’t let fear control me. Not anymore.” Her mother’s voice turned sharp. “You’re crazy, Jess! It isn’t safe—don’t do it!” Jess pulled away, looking off to the horizon. “I have to do this, Mom. My whole life’s work is out there.” Despite the brave words, her stomach churned with anxiety. She walked slowly toward the small boat, memories of her father lingering with every step. ** Waves crashed against the small boat, drenching Jess and blurring her vision. She clung to the wheel, barely navigating through the storm. When the engine sputtered and died, leaving her adrift in the howling wind and crashing waves, panic surged. But she forced it down, grabbing the emergency oars and beginning to row. Each stroke was a battle against the elements, her muscles burning with the effort. As she neared the buoy, a flash of lightning lit up the sky, casting eerie shadows over the turbulent water. Jess’s hands trembled as she reached for the buoy, her heart hammering. She fumbled with the data collection equipment, the fear gnawing at her insides. “Focus, Jess,” she muttered, her voice barely audible over the storm. “Just a little longer.” The lightning provided brief moments of clarity, illuminating her task. She worked through the terror, driven by a deep need to succeed. ** With the data secured, Jess turned back toward the shore, battling the raging storm harder than ever. She rowed with all her strength, but just as she set down the oars to catch her breath, a massive wave crashed over the boat, capsizing it. She broke the surface gasping, barely managing to stay afloat. Suddenly, memories of her father flooded her mind. In a vivid rush, she saw the water rushing over him, his desperate struggle against the sea. She saw herself as a child, holding onto a stray piece of wreckage, her face streaked with tears, her screams swallowed by the storm. The memories pulled her into an intense flashback, flickering between her father’s final moments and her own present struggle. With a surge of adrenaline, Jess forced herself to dive under, flipping the boat upright. She managed to toss the oars back into the boat, but her grip slipped on the buoy. Her breath ran out, and another image of her father crossed her mind. Determined, she took a deep breath and dove again, retrieving the buoy and securing it in the boat. Climbing back in, she looked up at the sky, murmuring softly, “Thanks, Dad.” ** Jess returned to Clearwater as dawn broke, the storm subsiding along with her fear. Exhausted yet alive, Jess made it back to shore and collapsed on the wet sand. Her mother and the townspeople surrounded her, relief written on their faces. Jess stumbled forward, handing her mother three things: the buoy, her hand, and her love. They embraced in a hug that, for Jess, felt like the Earth itself had paused to let her savor this moment. After a while, Jess looked up at her mother. “I spoke to him, Mom… Dad saved me.” Her mother teared up and nodded. “I know, Jess; he spoke to me too.” Jess had conquered her fear, and with a hoarse voice, celebrated her success. The project—critical to studying climate change’s impact on marine life—was saved. As she looked back at her mother, they embraced once more. This time, it felt like a hug with three people rather than just two, symbolizing the profound connection they now shared through her achievement.
