Unbalanced

Unbalanced(rachael bajada) Waves crash angrily on a dark and stormy night as the storms brew over the angry seas of Bells Beach. This summer has been full of storms, many that weren’t predicted. I think of how many lives have been lost here and that’s when I start to think how one big ocean could take so many lives away from loved ones. Thinking about it now it’s like a monster, so very scary only this one was silent and deadly. At first look, it’s as blue as a summer day sky, warm and friendly and it’s when you least expect it, it will come and take your life.

I was a sixteen year old girl, a local in Bells Beach and as I speak, I watch from above; my family and friends are throwing flower petals from the rocks into the water where I had slipped. They were calling my name, Aria, and grieving for me. The last thing that I remember was fishing from the rocks on a nice balmy night, the rocks were slippery today as the weather took a turn and an unpredicted storm hit. I realised I was standing on an unbalanced rock but it didn’t worry me, I was sixteen years old and I believed nothing could hurt me. I was reeling in the fish that was hooked on my line, when all of sudden I slipped and dragged under the water, I felt my head hit something hard and a bit rough, I didn’t notice the graze on my head until I saw blood pouring down in the water, I was becoming unconscious. In an instant the ocean had taken another life.

I’m mad that I could not save myself, no matter how hard I tried to grab the rocks and pull myself up to the surface; the waves would just continuously drag me back down. I had planned to do a lot in my life such as becoming a kindergarten teacher, marrying my long time boyfriend Ryan Amore, raising children and living in my dream house which would’ve been a lap of luxury by the sea. Sadly I will not fulfil those dreams.

I think to myself, why does the ocean take people’s lives away and why do waves crash against the rocks? Is it because they’re releasing stirred up anger or is something going on underneath the big blue ocean? All these questions should be answered by other people but sometimes in life you have to answer them yourself. The ocean only tells half the story, the rest of it you figure out for yourself. The ocean holds a lot of secrets, those secrets never to be revealed.

I can’t tell you the secret of why the ocean took my life but what I can tell you is that it is now my duty to watch my family and friends from above and protect them. All my family and friends were shocked by my sudden death. My parents could not stop grieving for a long time I saw them with my Nanna, Ryan, Grandpa, Aunty, Uncle and other close family members and friends. They were placing R.I.P photo and flowers near the sight of the tragedy, I wish I could be with them but I can’t as I am up here now. The family was taking my death really hard as they saw me as helpful, compassionate and caring person. I don’t think my family will be the same again.

As the months go by the community and all who knew and loved me were along the beach to remember me and the tragic death. The community names the rocks after me and they make the beach safer to prevent from accidents and deaths from happening again.




By Rachael Bajada