Killian 1 Claire Killian Ms.

Gardner English 10H 1 3 September 2013 The Ocean Paradox Beautiful night, isnt it? The voice had a soft, musical-like quality that made you think of warm embraces from your grandmother and yet there was a sense of wisdom to the voice, a tired wisdom of someone who had seen many things, not all things they want to remember. I turned around slowly, feeling somewhat lethargic from the humid East Coast air that the Vineyard possessed. The voice belonged to an older woman, her profile outlined sharply in the fading twilight. I estimated her to be around seventy, but her great shape and graceful agility made her seem younger. It is, I replied as she carefully picked her way down to the shoreline. Hawaii really is such a paradise, she said wistfully. This isnt Hawaii, I said, confused. The woman looked at me incredulously. Well of course it is dear. Dont you see the palm trees and the massive hotels? I shook my head. Theres no trees or a hotel. Theres my aunt and uncles house, if thats what youre referring to, but nothing else. I waited patiently while the womans mouth opened and closed, trying to figure out our puzzling paradox. Whats your name sweetheart? You look quite familiar. Claire Killian, I replied. Why do you ask?

Killian 2 Why my name is Claire Killian as well! she remarked, peering at me closely. Are you by any chance from Petaluma? Yes, I live there, I said slowly, growing suspicious. You do realize whats going on here, right? the woman said. I noticed she had picked up the basketball at my feet and was flipping it in a perfect arc, the motion repetitive and constant, much like the mellow waves lovingly lapping the shore. It was a motion I knew intimately; whenever I was stressed, it was my go-to relaxation method. No, I really dont understand, I said. Were the same people, but different ages of course, she said simply and clearly. My head spun. What? My mind sputtered around the very idea of what she proposed. I really dont think thats the case. It is quite perplexing, she agreed. So if we really are meeting, why dont you remember this meeting from when you were fifteen? I asked. Truth is, I dont really know, she replied honestly. Then how can I even know that you are me in an older form? Just saying the sentence made my brain spin. This metaphysical business was not my strong suit. I much prefer the clear conciseness of mathematics and science. But alas, there I was, stumbling right into a complex spider web of an event that only happens in books. Because I know everything about you, she said simply. Prove it, I challenged.

Killian 3 Certainly. At home, you have a shelf full of books stacked two deep. These are your favorite books youve ever read and they all have some deeper meaning about life like Sarah Dessens Lock and Key and Rick Riordans Mark of Athena. While you complain about practicing piano and basketball, those are your two greatest joys. Eric Claptons Tears in Heaven reminds you of all the loved ones youve lost and youll never forget the panic attack you had during your recital when you played the Sonata in F by Mozart. I shook my head. Anyone who knows me well would know that. She smiled again, undeterred. You live by a creed that deviates from a saying you found in a comedy movie. You fear it seems cheesy, but its what keeps you going. I realized she wasnt lying and I took an involuntary step backwards.. Feeling an uneven shift in my equilibrium, I turned away to watch the ocean. The current pushed the water unevenly towards the shore, the waves rolling forward until the profound force of the ocean pulled it back. The ocean is a powerful being. The ocean is always in flux, yet it is still the ocean. From the beach, sand and garbage are swept under the oceans wing every second. Still, days pass and the mind sees the same ocean youve seen all your life. she said softly. Thats what my grandmother spoke to me every time we were at the beach and when she gave me this, I said and splayed my fingers in midair. A band of waves, one after the other, was nestled on my fourth finger. I always wondered why she gave me that ring, the older woman said, holding out a chain around her neck to display the same ring. As a young girl, I never cared for

Killian 4 the sea, but I fell deeply in love with it as time went by. Startled, I grasped for words. If what you say is true, then we are definitely not the same person. Ive always loved the sea, even before I understood what it was. She frowned. I dont think so. Were still the same. I shook my head adamantly. No. The ocean is quite important to me. If we were, that major fact wouldnt change. And a little one would? she challenged. I paused. No, youre right. She started to smile until I added, Nothing would change. I twisted the ring on my finger as we were both quiet. Whenever I was nervous, I found myself staring at the ring in motion. It was a changeless ocean; no matter how you turned it, it just kept going with the same pattern of waves. On the other hand, if you wanted to label each wave, youd have different waves going around and around, always changing wave. That was the beauty of a ring. It was a perfect circleinfinite with a correspondingly infinite number of possibilities. Its getting mighty late. I should go. she said, breaking the contemplative silence. Okay, was all I said as she walked away. I left that beach later with an explanation of what happened. Not the explanation, but my explanation. She and I were from different universes. The same person in essence except for two small details. If you believed in the theory of infinite universes where you existed in every one of them, yet were slightly different in each one, it made sense. To my logical, left-brain orientated self, it was the only justification I could grasp without going insane.