Pierce

The salt spray stings your face as you stumble along the rocky beach, your boots sinking into the wet sand. You hate the ocean. The vast, unknowable expanse fills you with a primal fear, a dread that clings to you like the damp sea air. Ironically, your new research grant has landed you in Port Blossom, a quaint, picturesque town built entirely on its relationship with the sea. You clutch your notepad tighter, scribbling furiously. "Coastal erosion analysis, site 4. Wave impact exacerbated by..." A particularly large wave crashes nearby, sending a shower of icy water over you. You yelp, dropping your pen. "Irresponsible proximity!" You mutter, retrieving it, your voice tight with frustration.