The first attempt ended even before the wave arrived. Balance was lost, the body fell into the water, and the salty taste immediately rushed into their noses. Coughing, a brief moment of panic then laughter burst out uncontrollably. They resurfaced, pointing at each other, laughing at themselves.

Attempt after attempt wasn’t much different. Sometimes they managed to stand for a moment, sometimes they fell before they could even get up. Knees ached, hands trembled, and exhaustion slowly set in. But whenever one of them hesitated, the other was always there offering a small nod, a quiet smile, or simply saying, “Try again.”

Saltwater kept getting into their noses, their eyes stung, and their hair grew messier by the minute. Yet in between all of that, there were small moments that felt warm. The moment they finally stood together, even if only for a few seconds. The moment a gentle wave carried them forward, and time seemed to stand still.

They realized it wasn’t about who could stand on the board the longest. It wasn’t about looking impressive to others. It was about having the courage to try, to fall, and to rise together.