Jack was halfway across the beach when the girl crawled out of the ocean and fell prone on the hard sand. Surging foam-clad water surrounded her, and receded as the young man reached her side. Kneeling beside her, he asked, “Can I help you?” The girl turned her face away. Coughing and crying, she rose to her hands and knees again. Ocean water gushed from her as she vomited. “I’m not worth helping. Just let me…” Her words were cut off by another flood of vomited sea water. Then, “Oh, why couldn’t I drown like everybody else?” The girl was left gasping for air. The Pacific Ocean can be most unforgiving. The area off the mouth of the Columbia River is known as the Graveyard of the Pacific. Waves generated by winter storms, sandbars and dragon’s tooth rocks have claimed hundreds of vessels, large and small. For many, the frigid waters ended their lives. Sailors, fishermen and travelers alike found their graves at the bottom of the ocean. Few survived. Our story begins with one survivor who did not want to survive, and one who did not let her die. Follow their rocky journey to a hopeful end, and a precious beginning.