2024 PARIS OLYMPICS ONE SHOTS

She Dived Into the Water

Italy's flag sways in the air, a smile plastered on my face matching the energy. My hands hold two corners of the flag while my teammate holds the others. Four hands frantically dance in excitement. We made it to the Olympics--a dream I've had since a child.

The boat sways, and I lurch to the right. I look down at my feet to steady them, but I notice something flying off my left finger. I feel my heart skip a beat as my wedding ring soars downward, bouncing off the boat before diving into the Seine.

-Time Skip-

"Mr. Tamberi, is it true that your wedding ring flew into the Seine at the Olympics opening ceremony?"

I exhale, turning to the reporter who asked the question. My heart is sunken with regret, and I don't want to answer his question. A simple "yes" seems too small, too insignificant, for the horrible incident that occurred. I think about the apology I made to my wife last night, but still haven't been able to say in public.

Taking a few deep breaths, I begin my speech. 

"I'm sorry my love, I'm sorry to death. Too much water, too many kilos lost in recent months or perhaps the irrepressible enthusiasm of what we were doing. Probably all three things, the fact remains that I heard her slip off, I saw her fly.... I followed her with my eyes until I saw her bouncing inside the boat.

A tinkle of hope... But the bounce was unfortunately in the wrong direction and floating more than a thousand times in the air I saw her dive into the water as if that was the only place she wanted to be.

A few moments that lasted forever.

But if it had to happen, if I really had to lose this faith, I couldn't imagine a better place. It will remain forever in the riverbed of the city of love, flown away while I was trying to bring the Italian tricolor as high as possible during the opening ceremony of the most important sporting event in the world. If I had to make up an excuse I would never have been able to be like this."

I've finished my speech, and all around me is quiet. Somewhere to the left, a lone set of hands begin to clap, then another, then another, until all around me is applause so loud I can barely hear my own thoughts.

I wave to the crowd, signaling that I still have more to say.  "I think there might be a huge poetic side to yesterday's misdeed, and if you want, we'll throw yours into that river, too so they'll be together forever, and we'll have one more excuse to renew our vows and get married anew."

Sorry about how this might not be the most accurate, I used two different sources lol. I'm busy today so this one is short, but I still have one more one-shot I want to include. If you have any requests, I'll take them. Don't forget to vote and leave a comment on your favorite part!