My Swim Ring

Word count: 325

Purpose: School newsletter contribution

I was swimming naked in the water. The current that carried me always kept the same, slow speed, and never stopped. The water was closer to black sludge, both in visual and feeling. I was at the mercy of the flow of life, helpless to its dangerous waves and unpredictable directions. Around me was a deflated swim ring, old and full of small holes. All I could do was move my tired limbs to keep myself afloat above the sludge surface.

One day, the swim ring inflated itself slightly. I paid it no mind as I moved my arms and legs, not letting myself fall for false hope once more. A few days later, the swim ring inflated some more, and I could not help but notice it. There was nothing else to occupy my mind, but I still refused to let it hold my attention for too long. Even so, slowly, the swim ring continued to inflate as the long days passed us by.

Once the swim ring was inflated to its full size, I could no longer ignore it. I rested my tired arms upon it, and despite my fears, the small holes did not let the air pass through. Only once I was rested did the swim ring deflate, and I carried on swimming. I was grateful for the sudden rescue, but feared I would not see it or a long time.

The next time I fatigued, the swim ring slowly inflated, and I could rest again. It was not the perfect companion I had yearned to have for such a long time, but it was a reliable one. Each time I exhausted, it would inflate and offer me salvation.

A comfort I believed I would never have, it finally came to me after many and many years of waiting. For once, the black sludge seemed to feel more like a sea of water, and the atmosphere less bleak.

It was intoxicating.