It was mid-February and brisk outside. The kind of brisk where the air is so crisp that each breath you take fills your lungs with fresh adrenaline. There was not a cloud in sight, the sky was so blue it almost hurt to look at. Amagansett is beautiful in the winter, it’s quiet and peaceful. No tourists, no beaches filled with so many colorful umbrellas that you can hardly see the sand. I couldn’t help but smile, I felt lucky to be witnessing such beauty. It was morning, and I was with my boyfriend Jonny. Hot coffee’s in our hand, we drove to the beach, admiring everything in view. When we got there, we stood and looked at the ocean. It’s dark blue waves crashing hard, causing a chilly salty spray to land on our cheeks. Maybe it was the overwhelming feeling of happiness, or maybe it was too beautiful to just look at, but we decided we were going in. Before we had time to change our minds, we ripped off our clothes until we were bare and exposed. We ran through the sand and into the water. There’s a moment right before your body hits the water, of pure unknowingness and fear. Why am I jumping into freezing cold water in the middle of the winter?    What the hell am I doing? But in I went. The icy water enveloping my body, my face, my hair. I resurface and look at Jonny. I think then the reality of it all truly hit us, and we ran out, teeth chattering and bodies shivering. We wrap ourselves in towels and get close, trying to warm ourselves as much as possible. We reunite with our hot coffee’s and laugh. We drove home thinking of steaming hot showers.

That night I fell asleep to the sound of the waves, comfy and cozy underneath layers of sheets and blankets. It’s rare for me, to feel pure happiness and pure happiness only, but I can easily say that I went to bed with a big smile planted on my face.