Circles

"'Now his breath goes,' and some say, 'No'" - John Donne

Whilst some of their sad friends do say

“Now his breath goes,” and some say, “No.”

Water rushed up around me not touching me though, I was moving too fast for that. I struggled to maintain my balance on the board, holding on with everything I had. Everyone on the shore laughed whenever I was hit by a wave or got ‘air’ and Ree sat at the back of the boat with a huge grin. Ultimately I remember being happy, giddy with excitement.

I tuned out to the rest of the world, taking in the colours and landscape around me; the water was perfect, the colour of blue cellophane with the same window-like sheen. Instinct helped me to maintain my balance on the board. The perfect moment of beauty and freedom that everybody dreams of...

“FASTER!” I screamed for Dad or Ree to hear and in the next instant I was jerked forward as the boat accelerated. I almost flew then, with the occasional bump from the wake when I touched down again. I loved the challenge of staying on, proving myself to anyone watching.

Another solid jerk almost pulled the board from my grip, but before I gripped the foam handles again a thud from the waked knock me back. Time slowed down. The glittering teal of the water engulfed me then, rushing in to trap me under its blanketing surface. I couldn’t breathe – but it wasn’t painful like when I run too far too fast. I thought about moving my arms, but I felt so peaceful, floating in the current – and my vision slowly blurred.

Something was pushing on my chest. It throbbed like I was being punched. I could taste salt for a brief second before my lungs rid themselves of fluid. “Em, Em” Mum was panicking “Hey honey, can you hear me?” I tried to reply, but I couldn’t speak, my mouth just wouldn’t move.

“AMBULANCE! SOMEBODY CALL THE BLOODY AMBULANCE!” Dad’s voice boomed into all my senses so loud I could feel vibrations… or maybe I was shaking. I couldn’t tell. I couldn’t see anything except outlines.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry” Ree’s voice was the last thing I heard before sleep claimed me.

*****************************************************************

Lines of Poem from "A Valedictation of Mourning" by John Donne

I was kind of hoping for a comment by now, but I'll keep posting anyways.