I was practically jumping out of my skin in excitement. The cruise we were getting on was large and full of life. Ronnie, my second closest friend, said the cruise, the Holiday Cruise, was the best birthday money spent on a week-long trip.
My three friends - Ronnie, Justin, and Kyle- gathered around me. Our laughter shared as we told each other our expectations for the journey ahead. It was a rare outing, just the four of us setting out together.
I wore a t-shirt with fitted jeans, and strands of brown hair falling over my forehead. Ronnie had on a button down with jeans, and hair styled back. Justin went for a more carefree style and threw on a shirt and cargo shorts. Hair freshly and dyed blue hair left un-brushed. Finally, Kyle also had a shirt and jeans, his hair was trimmed.
"Think you're a bit overdressed, Ronnie?" Kyle jokes.
"A button-down isn't overdressed, y'all are just lazy!" Ronnie protested while we laughed, Kyle's laugh being infectious.
"Hey, it's better than cargo shorts," I said, shooting a look towards Justin.
"It's going to get hot!"
"We're near the water!" Kyle retorted.
As the ship finally started to move, the sun began to set. The sky was an amazing shade of pink, orange, and gold. It was a moment of pure awe, a fitting setting for their journey.
Ronnie joined me at the rail side, a grin on his face.
"Can you believe we've been saving up for this for the past year? Can't believe we're here now."
I nodded in agreement, "Yeah, it's crazy but let's make the most of this week."
Justin and Kyle joined us, and Justin playfully punched my arm. "You know if I wanted to stare at the sky, I would have stayed home."
Kyle chimed in, "Dude, let them enjoy the cruise."
"I'm just saying," Justin laughed.
As the days rolled by, my friends and I spent our time in one of the many entertainment options on board. There were parties, exotic places, and fancy food. However, with each passing night, we were getting more reckless, and safely thrown to the wind.
On the fourth night, we found ourselves in the ship's nightclub. You could nearly feel the walls vibrate as we stepped in, and the drinks flowed freely. The loud and rowdy crowd fueled their ignorance and blurred their judgment.
Amidst the intoxicating ambiance, a devious plan took root in Justin's mind. His speech was slightly slurred, he pointed towards the dark expanse of the ocean visible through the nightclub's window. With a mischievous gleam in his eyes, he dared me to jump off the ship.
"Noah," my friend Justin slurred, pointing out towards the dark ocean through the nightclub's window, "I dare you to jump off the ship!"
I couldn't help but burst into laughter at the insanity of the idea. My friends joined in, their laughter going throughout the room, drawing attention from the other passengers on the ship. At that moment, it felt as though we were the center of the universe, the kings of our amusement.
"Hell yeah, I'll do it!"
The crowd around us erupted in cheers and applause, feeding off the audacity of the challenge. Little did we know the consequences that awaited us beyond those nightclub walls. The adrenaline rush, the desire for adventure, and the collective intoxication of the moment masked the potential dangers that lay ahead.
We stumbled to the outer deck, where the breeze even seemed to encourage me. My heart pounded against my chest as I stood on the edge, looking down into the black nothingness. The air was a mix of emotions- fear, adrenaline, and doubt.
It was a moment where rationality took a backseat to the thrill of the dare, the exhilaration of breaking boundaries.
Kyle was setting up a plan to distract the ship's crew while I prepared to make the jump. With the clock ticking, they scattered, drawing attention away from my stupid stunt.
As the ship moved steadily on, the wind blew my hair in every direction. The night sky stretched above me as if the universe was watching in anticipation.
I heard my friends grow quiet, waiting for me to jump. Distantly, I could hear the ship's engines. With a deep breath, I jumped. Like a bird who has been trapped in a cage for too long and doesn't know how to fly. The wind rushed past my ears, and the water took me in, swallowing me whole. The iciness of the water paralyzed me but I realized I needed to swim towards the surface.
Meanwhile, everyone who had been sober and witnessed this frantically alerted the ship's crew. While the friend group was just a chorus of laughter. One passenger, Janet, a middle-aged woman, stood in disbelief.
"Oh my God! He jumped!" Janet screamed, her urgency alerting other passengers.
A man named David, who had been woken out of sleep, stepped forward. "Someone alert the ship's crew immediately. He's not coming back up!"
Emergency protocols were activated immediately. The alarms blared, piercing the night air. Crew members started a search and rescue operation, scanning the water with spotlights.
Janet and David stood together, their eyes darting back and forth over the lights reflecting in the water.
Her voice shook as she spoke, "I can't believe this happened. What type of friends are those?"
David nodded in reply, "We have to pray he's okay but I can't believe no one stopped him beforehand."
As the alarm blared and the emergency protocols were activated, panic rippled through the ship. Passengers scattered, crew members sprang into action, and a search and rescue operation was immediately initiated. Spotlights pierced through the darkness, scanning the vast expanse of the water, desperately seeking any sign of my presence.
Time ticked on, each passing second feeling like an eternity. Janet and David, two sober passengers who had witnessed the reckless dare unfold, clung to hope, their hearts heavy with concern for my well-being. Their faces etched with worry, they sought solace in each other's company, offering support and reassurance during the agonizing wait.
Meanwhile, the once vibrant and lively atmosphere on the ship transformed into a cold and somber aura. Laughter and carefree spirits were replaced with hushed whispers and solemn gazes. The event had cast a shadow over the entire vessel, the collective memory of the drunk dare weaving its way into the minds of those who had witnessed it unfold.