Iva
Thump-bum...
Breathe, Ivie.
Thump-bum...
Focus.
Thump-bum...
I stood at the edge of the starting block, my heart thudding so loudly it felt as if it might burst from my chest.
Thump-bum...
Each beat was like a loud drum in my ears, matching the roar of the crowd. The stadium was a sea of faces, their cheers blending into a thunderous roar. The bleachers were packed with thousands of spectators, their cheers and shouts a blaring symphony. The floodlights above cast harsh, rigid beams of light onto the pool, making the water's surface sparkle and glisten like liquid diamonds. The starting platform beneath my feet was cold and unyielding, its surface completely different from the heat radiating from my body.
Thump-bum.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady the erratic pulse of my heart. I glanced around, spotting familiar faces in the crowd—my family and friends. Mom was there, holding a placard with my name inscribed on it. Her lips moved, forming the words "You got this!" I gave a small smile before my gaze inadvertently locked with Jack's, my asshole ex-boyfriend. He sat among the crowd, his presence a reminder of that awful night. I could clearly remember the gut-wrenching moment when I had caught him with his secretary in his office, in a compromising state. Her fingers running through his hair while his face was between her thighs on his office desk. His deep brown eyes were fixed on me, and he gave a weak smile. The memory flashed in my mind– the way he blamed me, saying if I had been better in bed, he wouldn't have fucked his sec– I blinked away, forcing a neutral expression and clearing my throat, pushing the sting of his gaze aside.
The referee's voice cut through the noise, commanding the crowd to silence. A tense hush fell over the stadium. My heartbeat pounded even harder, the thump growing louder and more insistent. The metallic glint of the starting gun caught my eye.
"Swimmers, take your marks!"
His voice echoed in the silence. Each word loud and clear. My heartbeat was a steady drum, keeping me focused. Calm down, Imani. You've done this before. This is all you've been practicing for. I reminded myself, bending down and gripping the edge of the block. The referee raised the gun. I let out a sigh. My gaze straight and ahead.
"Set!"
The single word hung in the air, a brief moment of tension before the explosive sound that would signal the race's beginning.
When the gun fired, its sharp crack shattered the silence. I sprang off the block, the force guiding me into the cold, welcoming embrace of the water.
Thump-bum,
Thump-bum.
My heart raced with the rush of water around me. As I dived into the water, the initial shock was a jarring difference to the steady pulse of my heartbeat. The cold water enveloped me like a thousand tiny needles, its chill both invigorating and harsh. The water wrapped around me like a cool embrace. My senses were alive with the feel of the water, my heartbeat moving with the flow of my strokes. I moved through the water, every muscle engaged in a practiced dance. The water's resistance was a constant pressure against my skin, guiding me forward. I could hear the splashes as my arms cut through the water. Coach Amala's voice echoed in my mind.
"Stay low and keep your head down," she had said. "Your body should be like a torpedo—straight and powerful."
I focused on executing her techniques flawlessly: my arms pushed through the water in powerful strokes, each pull a proof to years of endless training. My legs kicked with steady bursts of energy, propelling me forward. As I approached the final stretch, Coach's words rang in my ears.
YOU ARE READING
Breaking Wave
RomanceA renowned Olympic swimmer, whose career was ended by a debilitating shoulder injury, becomes the head coach of a struggling men's college swim team in search of a new purpose. As she works to revive the team's fortunes, she sparks a high-stakes rom...
