Nothing but the bright blue water filled my eyes. I watched as colorful schools of fish swam past me, some swimming right through the spaces between my arms, legs, and right past my head as if I was just another part of the oceanic scenery. Little air bubbles escaped from my lips as I floated in place.
The view in front of me was breathtaking, absolutely astonishing. I had always been fascinated with water, the sea, the ocean, marine animals, anything of the sort. The fish, the dolphins, even sharks swam past me without a problem or a care in the world. It was amazing to be able to see all of this up close, and... without scuba gear. It was all too soon that I realized I needed oxygen.
I tried taking a breath but, remembering too late that I was submerged, inhaled a mouthful of salty water instead. My lungs were burning but I couldn't cough; I could only inhale and exhale. My instinct was to flounder my arms and legs about in an attempt to swim upward, but I was unable to move my limbs. It was as if I had become paralyzed.
I could feel myself slowly starting to give away. My body seemed as if it was going limp, and yet I still couldn't persuade my appendages to function. My breathing slowed but my heart raced in my chest, trying to keep me alive as long as it could. It was a failed attempt, though; I knew I was drowning. Suddenly, there was a bright light in my eyes, and I heard a voice speaking to me.
"Carly."
"Carly?"
"Carly!"
"Carly!" My mother said for the fourth time as she shook me vigorously. I finally woke up, still apprehensive from my nightmare, and ended up jumping from my bed onto my floor. She responded to that with a raised eyebrow and a shake of her head. "You should get ready for school; you've got about an hour."
"Yeah, sure." Grumbling other incoherent words under my breath, I stood up from being sprawled out across my carpet and grabbed my clothes off of the top of my dresser, heading to the bathroom for a much-needed shower.
I was your typical sixteen-year old girl. I had family and friends who loved me unconditionally, for the most part. I went to school, I did my homework and extracurricular activities, I cared about my looks. I gossiped, flirted, got stressed out, ate to relieve said stress, and zonked out at night at precisely ten o'clock. Average, typical teenage girl.
Stepping out of the shower, I dried myself and slipped into my clothing, running a brush through my wet hair. I did my usual before-school morning preparations, and then headed downstairs to the kitchen where the scent of breakfast food was wafting from.
"Hey, Mom. Hey, Lauren," I said, greeting my mother and my thirteen-year old sister.
"Honey, I thought I heard Ryan crying," Mom informed me. Nodding once, I went down the hallway and turned into his room. Sure enough, he was sitting up in his crib, his bottom lip wiggling a little and tears forming in the corners of his bright blue eyes.
"Aww, what's the matter?" I walked over to him and picked him up. His pout automatically upturned into a grin, and he giggled.
"Mama!"
Oh, I forgot to mention that I had a son. His name was Ryan, and I became pregnant with him when I was fourteen. In a way, Ryan was an amazing addition to my life. He was also a very large contributor to many of the difficulties that I had, but I wouldn't trade him for anything. He was my world, and I loved him to death.
After cooing at my son for a moment to calm him down a little, I carried him back to the kitchen with me and sat him carefully into his highchair. My mom set his food and a spoon in front of him, and I thanked her with a smile.
YOU ARE READING
If Love Tread Water
Teen FictionCarly Jameson was your typical teenage girl, burdened by a family, friends, school and... a baby? Carly faces the troubles of a being a teenage mom, and how having a son can prevent her from getting the things that she so badly desires, such as a so...