Shelly and Vee went to the beach after Dandy invited them. Vee really didn't want to go, but agreed anyway because she didn't want Shelly to get hurt. The sun beats down warmly on the sand as you sit under an umbrella, watching waves roll gently toward the shore. The saltwater breeze carries the sound of distant laughter and the rhythmic crash of surf against the shoreline.

Shelly suddenly appears beside you, her eyes bright with excitement as she gestures toward the water. "Come on, Vee! Let's look for shark teeth," she says, already moving toward the water's edge. You hesitate, feeling the familiar knot of anxiety tighten in your stomach, but you don't want to disappoint her. The sand feels warm beneath your feet as you follow her toward the water.

You step carefully into the shallow end where you can still feel the sandy bottom beneath your feet. The cool water lapping at your ankles feels refreshing against the hot sun. Shelly laughs, splashing slightly as she moves further out. "The best shark teeth are probably much further out," she calls back to you. With a nervous swallow, you follow Shelly further into the water, each step taking you deeper than the last.

That's when it kicks in. Your thalassophobia hits you like a physical wave as you realize how far from shore you've wandered. The water now reaches your waist, and when you glance down, you can barely see your feet through the shifting sand and murky water. Panic rises in your chest as your imagination conjures images of what might be swimming in the depths beyond your vision.

"Oh Vee!!! Look look! I found a shark tooth! Come over here!" Shelly's excited voice breaks through your mounting terror. You look up to see her holding something small and white between her fingers, her eyes sparkling with delight as she inspects her discovery, completely unaware of your distress.