The Thought Process of Shu Kurenai

Aquaphobia

I have already mentioned I have astraphobia, which is the fear of thunder. But now I also have aquaphobia, which is a fear of swimming.

Why I have this fear? It's because of a traumatic childhood experience.

When I was eight years old, my parents left me at the beach all alone. I was very sad about it and drew in the sand with a stick of things I liked and wanted to have.

Soon, I decided to go for a swim. Everything was fine at first, but I suddenly got stung by a jellyfish. I was so shocked that my brain seemed to stop and I forgot how to swim.

It was scary. I kept screaming for help before going under the water. The water was freezing and I couldn't stop freaking out.

I think I passed out for a while, because the next thing I knew, I was lying on a beach towel with three teenagers, one female and two males, looking at me. It turned out they had saved my life.

They noticed all the stings on my arms and legs and decided to take me to the hospital. I remember hanging on to them and not wanting to let go. For a moment, I felt what it was like to have older siblings.

I was hospitalised for a week. The stings eventually stopped hurting, but I couldn't help wondering what would have happened if no one was at the beach. Since then, I have never dared to go in the water of a swimming pool or the sea.

Valt and Xander visited me in the hospital to make sure I was okay. But my parents just screamed at me for creating so much trouble for them. I think this was when I realized they will never love me. They care more about their reputations than their own child.

So I developed a habit of pretending I was fine when I was actually miserable. Valt had always felt sorry for me for having non-existing parents in my life. But I didn't want him to see how broken I truly was by all the neglect I have suffered.

But a part of me still wanted my parents to love me. So I decided to be the best student in school. Unfortunately, it led to me sabotaging my health.