When writer and storyteller David Dickerson returns to grad school at the age of thirty-one, he has high hopes for his love life because "science is on his side." His pursuit of romance leads him to a dark ocean at 3 a.m. for a moment he'll never forget. Originally performed at The Story Collider in May 2011, this story is now presented in stunning illustrated form by artist Joe Wierenga. Read it alone, or use the player below to listen as you read.

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David Dickerson is a storyteller in the New York area who is a regular on NPR's This American Life and at shows around the city. His book, House of Cards: Love, Faith, and Other Social Expressions, was published in October 2009 by Riverhead. Art by Joe Wierenga.