blue wave

The ocean had always been Tolu’s escape. Whenever things felt too loud—too confusing, too heavy—he would walk down to the quiet shore just before sunset. The sky would melt into soft blues and purples, and the waves would roll in like whispers, steady and calm. That evening, the sea looked different. The waves glowed a deeper blue, almost like they were alive with secrets. Tolu sat on his usual rock, hugging his knees. School had been hard again. The jokes, the stares, the way people looked at him when he didn’t fit into what they expected a boy to be. He didn’t even fully understand himself yet—only that he felt… different. “Funny, isn’t it?” The voice startled him. A boy stood a few steps away, barefoot, his trousers rolled up, letting the water touch his feet. His smile was gentle, like he’d known Tolu for a long time. “I come here when I feel lost too,” the boy said, sitting beside him. “I’m not lost,” Tolu replied quickly. The boy chuckled softly. “That’s what I used to say.” They sat in silence for a while, listening to the waves. The ocean shimmered under the fading light, each wave glowing blue as it rolled in. “I used to think I had to fight who I am,” the boy continued. “Like I had to push it down so people would accept me.” Tolu swallowed. “Did it work?” The boy shook his head. “No. It only made me feel like I was drowning.” The waves crashed a little louder, as if agreeing. “So what did you do?” Tolu asked quietly. “I stopped fighting the wave,” he said. “I let it carry me.” Tolu looked at him, confused. “What does that even mean?” “It means I accepted myself. All of it. Even the parts people didn’t understand.” The wind picked up, and a stronger wave rushed forward, splashing near their feet. For a moment, Tolu felt something shift inside him—like the ocean was speaking directly to his heart. “I think I’m scared,” he admitted. “That’s okay,” the boy said softly. “Courage doesn’t mean you’re not scared. It just means you don’t let fear decide who you are.” Tolu stared at the glowing water. For the first time, the blue didn’t feel cold or lonely. It felt… alive. Like it was holding him, not pulling him under. When he turned to say something, the boy was gone. Only the waves remained—rolling in, glowing bright blue under the night sky. Tolu stood up slowly. He didn’t have all the answers yet. Maybe he wouldn’t for a while. But something inside him felt lighter, like he could finally breathe. As he walked away from the shore, the ocean behind him whispered one last time— Not as a warning, but as a promise. The wave would always be there. And one day, he would be strong enough to ride it. yeah he was not the kind that give up quickly no matter what he was passing through. and the small talk with that stranger gave him some kind of encouragement to keep going.