Just Keep Swimming

Sam

There was a time when I used to love the beach. I'd go there every weekend to build sandcastles and swim in the ocean.

I'm a swimmer, and a pretty good one. I've been swimming since I was six. My mother practically forced me to start swimming. Every day after school I would go to the gym for swimming practice. It was brutal. It seemed like the older I got the more tiring it became but, I've gotten used to it. The water in the ears, the chlorine smell, the life-threatening exercises, all of it. But now it's different.

July 9, 2012.

I'll never forget that day. That was the day I nearly drowned in the ocean. I really should have listened to that guy on the pier he was right, a storm was coming but I didn't listen. I should've but I didn't because I'm as stubborn as a mule. I'm just glad he saved me from drowning but after that day I never saw him again.

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January 8, 2016

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I laid in the backseat of the car with 'Lost Boy' by Ruth B blasting through my earphones. I can't believe I'm back home. I've been here for a week but I still can't believe it. Four years away from Silver Moore can change a person. Heck, living in a boarding house in another state does more than change a person, it drove me crazy some of the idiots there were aggravating.

A hand tapping on the window drew me away from my thoughts, my mother stood outside with a frown on her lips. I lazily opened the door and she had to hunch her back in order to see me. She frowns at me when she notices I've got no intention of taking off my earphones.

She gestures for me to get out of the car. I do so, and then I quickly check the time on my phone.

6:34.

I took off my earphones and stared at my mother. She's only 40 years old but to any one who didn't know her she looked like a 60 year old.

She's always working and she's always stressed. Her grey hairs are more dominant than her black hairs and she sports wrinkles around her eyes and lips. Her brown eyes don't sparkle like they used too. She's worried about me. I am too.

"You slept in the car again," she stated her steely stare trying to peer its way to my soul.

I simply nodded. She sighed and sent me to go and get ready for school.

#

"You took a long time," my mother said as I took a seat in the car.

I kept silent and stared out the window after wearing my seatbelt. She sighs and starts the engine. I watch the trees and lampposts blur by.

"I got promoted yesterday," she said trying to start a conversation.

"Cool," I replied slowly. She's been gaining promotions weekly and it's starting to freak me out a bit.

"I delivered a baby boy yesterday, his name is Oliver,"

"Awww." I cooed. My mother laughed at me. "Blond or brunette?" I asked.

"Brunette," my mother answered with a smile.

"Woah, he's gonna be a heart breaker one day." I said. My mother hummed in agreement.