Lifeguard

1. Why not?

            It was the summer holiday before Sydney went to university. Her gut was telling her that summer was going to be an extraordinary one, although she wasn't sure why exactly. Sydney had sorted everything out for her departure for university, so she was more than ready to enjoy a few months without any turbulations and disruptions.

Lying down on a white chaise-longue with her brown sunglasses on, Sydney was properly enjoying the scorching hot sun. Her nieces had just gone to sleep, but she continued to throw occasional glances at them just in case someone woke up. Her parents and cousin were still having lunch at their favourite beach restaurant, which they had discovered the previous summer.

She had dreamt of this tranquillity ever since the final year of high school had begun. She had known it would be the last push before university, but she had to stay on top of her game both at school and in the pool. Sydney was the type of person who hardly accepted failure, and she always strived for more.

Childish crying had interrupted her peace, replacing the sound of strong breeze. She felt her eyes widening and she quickly rose to her feet, alarmed something could have gone wrong with her nieces. She instantly turned her head to her right, but with pleasure she found out they were still asleep.

The wailing stopped for a second, then it started again. Sydney's heart was racing, and she swiftly made her way towards the noise. It was coming from the sea while more people were gathering at the shore.

She took a final glimpse of her sleeping nieces before she pushed through the crowd. Her eyes would pop out of their sockets when she saw a child drowning and without having any second thoughts, she dove in the water.

The cool liquid hit her hot skin, instantly covering her with goosebumps. Sydney was too busy to notice that as she was fighting with time and the waves that wanted to stop her. She ran in such hurry that she didn't take her goggles, so the only reference point she had was the wailing.

Until it stopped.

Sydney started swimming faster, trying to keep her eyes open in the salty water. She swallowed big sips in her attempt to reach the drowning child quickly. She finally located the body, embraced it, and pulled it above water.

The child was still alive. She felt his heartbeat. Sydney put her arm under his armpits and started swimming towards the shore where the crowd had doubled. The child was so shocked that he started tossing and turning, pushing Sydney's body underwater.

Her mind was blank; the only thing she could think of was the tips her grandfather had given her when she was little.

She didn't have time to apply them because her body hit something warm. It was someone – the lifeguard who had finally made it to the accident. He wrapped an arm around Sydney, but she protested.

''Take care of the child.'' She said in between pants while trying to compose herself. Despite being forcefully drowned by the child, she searched the sea around her to make sure he was in safety at last.

''He'll be fine,'' The lifeguard told her with a little smirk as if to show he had plenty of experience in saving people, ''let's go, honey.'' Sydney didn't even register the word, but it was for the better. She didn't tolerate guys who spoke like that just to get into someone's pants.

The lifeguard pulled the child to the shore, removing the swimming ring he had put around. Sydney exited the water a few seconds after them, collapsing on the sand while everyone cheered for her and wiped away their tears.

''Thank you all, but I didn't do anything,'' She thanked with a worried smile, nervous for her nieces and the child who had almost drowned, ''I hope he's better and be careful – the flag is yellow today.'' She pointed at the flag above the lifeguard station before she motioned for her chaise-longue.