Lost at sea, caught in a wave of adulthood, Marissa gazed to the shore of childhood. Its soft sands and rippling palms were all she'd ever known. Now, cast adrift on the clutching sea of reality, she wished for someone to tell her what to do. Where to go.

"Ahoy there!" a voice boomed across the waves, "Are you lost too?"

Marissa shouted back that she was. She couldn't see the owner of the voice. The sun blinded her.

"You should follow me. I know the only right way to go. If you don't follow me, you'll end up punished."

"Punished?" Marissa shouted, "Why would I be punished for not following you?"

"Don't listen to him!" another voice shouted, "He's lying. Following him means you'll definitely be punished. I know the only right way."

"No, no! It's me! I have all the answers! And you know I'm right because we've always done it this way," a third voice yelled.

Marissa looked back to the shore.

"Y'know what? I think I'm going to try this on my own."