Submitted by Robert

I had a vacation planned with my friends, hiking a trail everyone loved. That morning, though, something inside me pulled me elsewhere. It was weird. I couldn’t ignore this urge to skip the trail and check out a hidden beach nearby.

I’ve learned to trust my gut, even when it doesn’t make sense. So, I bailed on my friends and set off for this beach. I couldn’t tell you why, but it felt right.

The walk was normal at first. The beach wasn’t on any map. Trees surrounded me, and the path was narrow and quiet. When I reached the shore, the sight was amazing. White sand, clear blue water, and no one around. It felt like a secret paradise just for me.

Later, I found out the hiking trail had a sudden rockslide. No one saw it coming. Luckily, there weren’t any bad injuries, but it scared me to think I could have been there. I kept wondering:

Was it luck, or was something more at play?

It made me think I might have a guardian angel, looking out for me.

On the beach, I felt alone with nature. The waves gently hit the shore, and the salty breeze played with my hair. I was lost in the moment when I saw him. This guy seemed to appear out of nowhere, close enough that I could see his friendly smile.

He didn’t say much—just walked past and said, “You’re safe here.” It was odd. Those simple words gave me chills, but also comfort. Before I could ask who he was, he continued along the beach, blending into the scenery.

I sat up, trying to see where he went, but he’d vanished. I looked around, half expecting him to reappear, but there was nothing—just the calm beach and ocean. I couldn’t shake the feeling that the stranger was somehow connected to the pull I’d felt that morning.

As the sun set, painting the sky with pink and orange, I gathered my things to leave. I kept glancing back, wishing the stranger would appear again, but knowing he wouldn’t. The beach had given me more than just a peaceful day—it gave me a sense of being watched over.

That evening, my phone buzzed with news alerts. What I saw made my heart skip a beat. A landslide had hit the hiking trail I skipped that morning. It was bad, with pictures showing the path covered in rocks and dirt.

My hands shook as I read about hikers caught off guard and the rush to safety. No one died, but there were injuries and close calls. I just sat there, trying to process everything. My gut sank as I realized how close I came to being there.

What if I hadn’t followed that strange urge to the beach? Would I have escaped the rockslide? I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was looking out for me—maybe even that stranger at the beach.

I felt grateful and amazed at how life sometimes unfolds in odd ways. It’s like the universe has invisible strings, guiding us when we need it most. I felt like I’d been given a second chance, a reminder to listen to those gut feelings.

I can’t stop thinking about that day. Every time I close my eyes, I see the beach and hear those words:

“You’re safe here.”

Was it just luck that I ended up there instead of on that trail? Or was someone watching over me?

I like to think my guardian angel was working hard, steering me away from danger. It sounds crazy, I know. But when I replay the events, it feels so… planned. Like some cosmic GPS redirected my path. The doubter in me almost laughs at the thought, but then I picture that stranger’s smile and his calm words.

There’s a quiet thankfulness in me now. I’m grateful for that invisible nudge keeping me safe. Life feels more precious, knowing how things could’ve been so different.