I walk up the beach as if I just survived a shipwreck. I guess in a sense I did. People stare as I trudge through the sand in my drenched clothes—quite aware of how bizarre I look while I am too spaced out to notice myself. After climbing over the wall and embarrassingly walking through town like a castaway, I make my way down the street where my Aunt's house sits at the end.

I think I realized something as I jumped into the water and left all my worries on the dock. I think I realized that I'm not okay, and not because I drink too much or surround...