The beach is eerily peaceful because of how late in the season it is. It’s almost Christmas, and the wintry weather has been late in moving in this year. There should be snow by now, yet it’s been mild, and the sea looks unnervingly calm at this early hour. Letting all the sounds of nature overtake my brain and give me a little respite. I pull my jacket around me more against the cold wind and watch the curl and crash of waves as the tide moves in again.

I didn’t sleep much and ...