Today they started swimming lessons, the heating was permanently turned off, the pool was ice cold, cubes of ice bobbed on the surface, I could see my own breath.
I stood at the edge of the pool, my heart was beating so hard I thought it was going to jump out of my chest, this was my first lesson, I had never even been in a pool.
“Jump” the scientist said pushing me closer to the pool, I stared at my reflection and slowly dipped my foot in, it was colder than I thought. I looked around at the other children around the pool.
I saw Taylor on a diving board, he had a very neat six pack, he jumped very lightly into the air, flipped gracefully and landed in the water with a light splash he swam like an eel, whilst others like the child on the opposite side of the pool lay on her side shivering, her arms wrapped tightly around her, there was blood coming from her ears and her eyes were rimmed red and she was pale, almost blue when a scientist wrapped a blanket around her and carried her away, her eyes fluttering.
“Too slow!” the scientist shouted booting me into the water. I started panicking as the waves rose higher over my head, ice cold water filled my nose and my mouth, my eyes were blurry and I could feel my ears popping, I was losing air fast and the edges of my vision were already turning dark, I was losing consciousness.
He dived in next to me and wrapped his arms around my waist pulling me up wards towards the bright light.
We were on the surface now, he pulled me onto the ledge, I tried to fill my lungs with sweet oxygen, but I couldn’t, my eyes bulged, I was suffocating but Taylor’s hands were already on my head keeping me on the floor, his lips were on mine breathing hot air into my mouth and pressing hard on my chest, I felt so sleepy, I’m sure if I fall asleep for just a second, I’ll be fine, my head was swimming like I was still in the pool.
Suddenly a slap connected hard with my face snapping all the dizziness and thoughts of sleep out of me “Don’t sleep!, I need you to breathe” he urged. I turned to the side and spat out a river of water, gulping the air as if it were water. I could see the worry on Taylor’s face melt away as he embraced me, I was flooded with relief as he wrapped his arms around me tightly and protectively, the heat that radiated off his body was intense, so warm in this freezing cold room, I clung to him tightly as tears ran down my cheek.
A second scientist came to see what was going on, it was the same one from the escape, who took me to my operation and the same one who gave me the medicine for my pain. He was arguing with the first scientist saying that he was too harsh and too impatient, he took over supervising me, it did little to relax my nerves.
The second time, Taylor is standing in the pool reaching towards me and I was standing at the edge again, the memories of what happened still very fresh in my mind.
“Just put one foot into the water, its ok I’m here” he says soothingly. God, when did I become so dependent I think. But I do what he says any way, my heart speeds up as I slide into the water, taking deep breaths trying to calm myself.
I took steps wading through the water, I felt like an five year old, my hand clasping him, he smiles encouragingly, I am almost used to the cold water.
He gets me to lie on my back, his hands resting gently underneath me, I was floating, Taylor moved his hands from underneath me and began floating next to me, I looked up at the ceiling, then at the diving board, Tyler was watching us with an angry, almost envious glare, his eyes locked with mine for a brief moment, then he dove into the deep end, he resurfaced quickly and walked away towards the changing rooms.
YOU ARE READING
Road Runners
Teen FictionYou had to kill, they had to die, you slit their throats, yet wondered why. The gifted saint, that you once knew, is lying dead, infront of you. And as you watch, wounded retreat, listen to his slow heart beat. The valient soldier, you just slayed, ...
