The fog was thick as pea soup that day. You couldn't see more than a few feet in front of you, no matter how hard you squinted. It felt like being wrapped up in a damp, gray blanket that clung to everything. Van Weyden stood on the deck of the ferry, trying to peer through the mist.And boy, did it ever. Out of nowhere, there was this massive crash that shook the whole ferry like a giant had picked it up and given it a good shake. People were falling all over the place, screaming and grabbing onto whatever they could. Van Weyden's heart was racing a mile a minute when he realized what had happened - they'd smashed right into another ship in all that fog.Now, Van Weyden was scared out of his mind, but he knew he had to do something. He started helping folks nearby, showing them how to strap on life jackets.Next thing he knew, Van Weyden was dunked into the San Francisco Bay, and let me tell you, it was cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey. The water hit him like a thousand icy needles, and the currents were pulling him every which way.As he was fighting to keep his head above water, Van Weyden's mind started wandering. He thought about his cozy little apartment back in San Francisco, his favorite armchair where he'd curl up with a good book and write his critiques. It all seemed like a million miles away now.After what felt like hours of struggling, Van Weyden was running on fumes. His arms and legs felt heavier than lead, and he was starting to think this might be it. But just when he was about to throw in the towel, something appeared out of the fog like a mirage. It was a beat-up old schooner, looking like something straight out of a pirate story.The crew on the ship, which he later found out was called the Ghost, had spotted him floundering around. They tossed him a life preserver, and Van Weyden grabbed onto that thing like it was made of solid gold.Some rough-looking guys with hands like sandpaper hauled him aboard, and Van Weyden just collapsed on the deck like a sack of potatoes. He could hear people talking around him, but it all sounded far away and muffled, like he was underwater. His clothes were soaked through, and he was shivering so hard his teeth were chattering.As he was slipping into la-la land, Van Weyden couldn't help but think about how crazy life can be. One minute you're safe and sound in your little bubble, the next you're fighting for your life in the middle of the ocean. The deck of the Ghost was hard and unfamiliar under him, but at least it was solid.Little did he know, when he'd wake up, it would feel like the worst hangover of his life - minus the fun night before. His head would be pounding like a jackhammer, and his body? Well, let's just say it would feel like it had gone ten rounds with a heavyweight champ. But that was all still to come.