
Medici had recently asked Rocha’s sister, Emily, to marry him, and Rocha was thrilled his friend would soon become family. Stuck in bumper-to-bumper Friday-afternoon traffic, they searched for Jack Johnson songs on the radio and caught up on the week, chatting about work, school, and life. Moments later, the two friends climbed into Medici’s black Nissan Altima and began the long trek to the outer edge of Cape Cod. Just as he was gathering his board, wetsuit, and a fresh set of clothes, he heard a knock on the front door. When the final school bell rang, releasing students like a pack of greyhounds at the track, Rocha hopped onto his motorcycle and raced home. The message came from Arthur Medici, a 26-year-old college student from Brazil who attended Rocha’s church and had known him for years. Go home and grab your stuff and be ready because I’m coming to your house.”


